The poem The Weary Blues was written by Langston Hughes in 1925. Much of his work focuses on giving the African American community a voice; he depicts their struggles and their desire for freedom and equality. Through this poem Hughes also illustrates African American culture through the blues singer. The singer uses his song to express feeling of depression and isolation so the overall tone of the poem is one of sorrow. This can be seen through Hughes’ repetition, diction and simile.

The atmosphere in this poem reflects this tone of sorrow since it is night and there is only the “pale dull pallor of an old gas light”. Since the light has been described as “pale” and “dull” this creates a very dark and depressing image, and this lack of light can represent the hopelessness felt by the singer. This light can also be seen as the spirit of the singer because he seems to have defeated and worn out by the many struggles he has faced throughout his life.

This poem seems calm as the speaker describes what he hears as a “drowsy syncopated tune” and rocks “back and forth to a mellow croon”. This can also be seen through the repetition of “He did a lazy sway…” which slows the pace. 

Hughes also describes the man’s “ebony hands on each ivory key” there is a contrast between his hands and the keys … As the singer using the piano to express his emotions the piano becomes an extension of himself as it too begins to “moan”.

He sang a “sad raggy tune: with a “melancholy tune”

His song seems to be a way for him to express his sadness and loneliness. Through the repetition of the statement “ain’t got nobody” Hughes illustrates the utter isolation felt by the singer. Perhaps this is why he must express himself through song because he has no one else to listen to him and takes a certain comfort in sharing his pain with the audience. Although he does say that he is going to quit his “frownin’” and put his “troubles on the self”, which brings forth a sense of hope as its clear he wishes to make a effort in achieving his happiness, it is evident that he cannot simply forget his troubles and conceal his pain with a smile. His depression cannot be so easily overcome because he repeats that he has “the Weary Blues” and “can’t be satisfied–“. This line is followed by a caesura providing time for reflection and creating emphasis on his final statement “I ain’t happy no mo’ and I wish I had died”. Here he seems to have given up hope and wishes to escape his suffering through death.

“stars went out and so did the moon” which create complete darkness and all hope for this man are gone, there is nothing more he can do, he is a dead rock!

Not only does the speaker describe the singer, but the poem itself has been written

The musical interjections break up the rhyming scheme