As mentioned in Mama’s Got the Blues, recurring themes in women’s blues music had to do with problems with male lovers in heterosexual relationships. In Billie Holiday’s recording “St. Louis Blues,” she sings a solemn tone about problems she is having with the man she loves. She discusses that the man leaves her for a wealthy woman with a diamond ring, powder make-up and store-bought hair, which enflames her jealousy of this St Louis woman. The feelings she has of knowing he leaves for the wealthy woman pushes her to contemplate leaving. But this somber scenario continues for four verses then suddenly the instruments play an upbeat tone in which she sings the last verse with a different kind of attitude towards the man. She ends the song with a verse expressing “I love my man ‘till the day I die.” I think this song was a great example of a common theme for the blues and the strong emotions that played a role in many of women’s lives and their relationships.

I chose “St. Louis Blues” because I feel that it was a great example of a common theme in its time. The strong emotions and the lifestyles of the middle class tied together with love and relationships. This song allowed for Billie Holiday to express herself and affirm the dominant middle-class ideology.