Meaning of "Preachin' Blues (Up Jumped the Devil)" by Robert Johnson

"Preachin' Blues (Up Jumped the Devil)" by Robert Johnson delves into the intense emotional and psychological impact of the blues on an individual. The speaker personifies the blues as a haunting force that walks alongside him, affecting every aspect of his life. The blues are portrayed as a powerful entity that tears the speaker apart and causes him immense pain, reminiscent of a heart disease slowly killing him from within. Johnson's lyrics also allude to seeking solace in distractions, such as studying the rain and going to the distillery, as a means to temporarily alleviate the overwhelming presence of the blues. Overall, the song serves as a poignant exploration of the debilitating nature of deep emotional turmoil and the ways in which individuals attempt to cope with it.