Singin' the Blues

Racoon · 05-04-2006

Anyone can write a song.
even a blues song...So here is a place to do it.

--------------------------------------------------------------
Why does the man,
keep us po' folk down?

frustration breaks the heart,
but the spirit keeps me in

Stuck in a rut,
so I drink the rot-gut

drown those tears with more
Don't cry for me Gertrude
These eyes will for you

[chorus]
And when God shines His smile
and walks in these 'ol shoes a mile,

Better days will come
oh lord have mercy
Better days will come.
[chorus]

From the crossroads heart aches begin
when will the supression ever end?

It just ain't fair
to keep a Negro down

Happiness is only a dream
one that never visits

From the cotton fields to the slaughterhouses
It ain't ever been there

Never alone, my suffering has friends
everywhere I see no end

This luck is so damned bad
the faces of my brothers so sad

These Muddy Waters flow like the 'ssippi
from shy-town ghettos

[chorus]
And when God shines his smile
and walks in these 'ol shoes a mile

Better days will come
oh Lord have mercy
better days will come
[chorus]

Racoon
Took me about 10 minutes to whip that one up...

>>>>

but Thats more like the Blues!

Whats your opinion?
I can't play an instrument yet, so maybe I can collaborate with someone??

Racoon · 05-05-2006

Ok, I haven't taken Music Theory at a college level, so don't bash me...

Blues are usually sung in 3 line Stanzas.
Phase 1 measures 1-4 - I I I I
Phase 2 measures 5-8 - IV IV I I
Phase 3 measures 9 - 12 V V I I

can anyone help explain that?
I will work on another Blues song.

Buffy · 05-05-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Racoon

Ok, I haven't taken Music Theory at a college level, so don't bash me...

But its always so fun to do! But I'll resist the temptation.

First off, you're doing 16-bar blues (four lines in each "stanza" which we call "verses" in music), instead of 12-bar blues (3 lines per verse). 16-bar blues is associated with white guys, btw! The chord progression in both is (using C-major key) C*4-F*2-C*2-G-F-C-F, where for 16 you just double the bars (measures) for the last 4 chords. There are lots of variations, swapping bars using 7ths and Maj7th chords (only the white boys do the Maj7ths though).

Second, if you want real black blues, the first two lines need to always be repeated with the 3rd line being a punch line:

I woke up this morning, I had them statesboro blues,
I woke up this morning, had them statesboro blues.
Well, I looked over in the corner, and grandpa seemed to have them too.

The chorus has to have the *same* chord progression, but just be repeated several times in the song, and it often is the FIRST verse:

Wake up mama turn your lamp down low,
Wake up mama turn your lamp down low,
You got some nerve baby, to turn Uncle John from your door

Have fun!

Now you too can be an Eminem of Blues,
Buffy

orbsycli · 05-05-2006

ah I like this thread.

orbsycli · 05-05-2006

numbers and patterns of music, so fascinating.
I learned it by listening and counting.

Buffy · 05-05-2006

Oh I forgot. Sometimes you'll have a bridge, which is usually G*4-F*2-C*2-G-F-C-F, thrown somewhere in the middle (see the "I'm gonna pass me a brand new resolution" line in the Kinks "Here Come the People In Grey"), but that again is usually a white boy blues affectation....

I got a letter this morning with serious news that's gone and ruined my day,
Bluesy Buffy

Racoon · 05-05-2006

Thats good info Buffy.
I'm so glad your around.

What about this 4 liner...
from the link in Coyers thread.

"Prove it on me" - Ma Rainey 1928

"Went out last night with a crowd of my friends,
They must have been women 'cause I don't like no men.
Wear my clothes like a fan, talk to the gals like any old man.
'Cause they say I do it, aint nobody caught me, sure got to prove it on me"

shocking!
I wonder if this model would work?

And as to being the next Eminem,
I'd prefer to be the next Racoon. (or cleverer name)
Eminem was the first real crossover into Rap, so now it can be done again.
Just like Jackie Robinson

only different.

I don't really read Music either...

To many 'Ologies right now.
Thank you for the help so eevrybody.

Sunshinin', so the only Blues here is in the sky,

Racoon

Buffy · 05-05-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Racoon

Thats good info Buffy.
I'm so glad your around.

Glad to be edifying!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Racoon

"Prove it on me" - Ma Rainey 1928

Ma Rainey! Yow! It sure looks 16-bar, (as Tom Lehrer will tell you, its only in Folk Music that it "doesn't really matter if you put a couple of extra syllables into a line.")

It sounds more ethnic if it ain't good English,

Buffy