leadbelly where did you sleep last night lyrics meaning

Lead Belly's "Where Did You Sleep Last Night" (also known as "In the Pines") is a traditional folk song with a long history and open to interpretation. The lyrics themselves are quite simple, but their meaning has become layered over time. Here's a breakdown of the main elements and some possible interpretations:

The Lyrics:

The core of the song features a repeated verse:

My girl, my girl, don't lie to meTell me, where did you sleep last night?(Come on and tell me baby)In the pines, in the pines where the sun don't ever shine