We need songs for these times
A member of my Ottawa Song Circle issued "an over 65 Corona virus songwriting" challenge. Here's my contribution. (Though he said "Corona," we tend to call it "COVID 19" in Canada.) Do what you will with it.
When we've all got the blues, we need some songs to help us out, not necessarily about those over 65 and not necessarily blues. What have you got? Nothing too political please (see the Guidelines), and i'd ask that we avoid lengthy discussions of the disease and responses to it.
Keep well, folks.
COVID 19 Blues
(to any 12-bar blues tune that fits) Ranald Thurgood
Some folks say these housebound blues ain't bad,
Some folks say these housebound blues ain't bad,
But these COVID 19 blues are the worst I've ever had.
Turned on the CBC just to hear the news, (replace with your favourite radio station)
Turned on the CBC just to hear the news,
All they had to say was: ev'ones got the COVID 19 blues.
They say it only kills the elderly and the 'mune impaired,
They say it only kills the elderly and the 'mune impaired,
So, Rannie, boy, they tell me, you ain't likely gonna be spared.
Turned on Holger Petersen just to get away from the news, (replace with your blues-radio host)
Turned on Holger Petersen just to get away from the news,
He says," I'll spend the next two hours playing the old 'TB Blues'."
They sent the school kids home just to try'n stop the spread,
They sent the school kids home just to try'n stop the spread,
They're all playing in my courtyard, trying' to make their grandparents dead.
Got my mojo working, babe, you know that's true,
Got my mojo working, babe, you know that's true,
But what good's a mojo when I have to keep six feet from you?
(A mojo is a charm, usually for love/sex magic.)
(Holger hosts "Saturday Night Blues" on CBC Radio One.)
Robert Johnson's mother, describing blues musicians:
"I never did have no trouble with him until he got big enough to be round with bigger boys and off from home. Then he used to follow all these harp blowers, mandoleen (sic) and guitar players."
Lomax, Alan, The Land where The Blues Began, NY: Pantheon, 1993, p.14.
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