The Blues
Blues—evolved from African-inspired church music ("gospel");
Big Bill Broonzy (son of ex-slave & blues singer with over 200 recordings)
states "blues won’t die because spirituals won’t die. Blues—a steal from
spirituals. And rock is a steal from the blues … Blues singers start out singing
spirituals."
Robert Johnson
For example, examine this excerpt from "Me & the Devil" ...
(a) Early this mornin, when you knocked upon my door,
(a) Early this mornin, when you knocked upon my door,
(b) And I said, “Hello, Satan, I believe it’s time to go.
Me & the Devil (complete)
Early this mornin, when you knocked upon my door,
Early this mornin, when you knocked upon my door,
And I said, “Hello, Satan, I believe it’s time to go.
Me and the Devil was walkin’ side by side,
Me and the Devil was walkin’ side by side,
I’m goin’ to beat my woman until I get satisfied.
She say you don’t see why that I will dog her ’round,
She say you don’t see why that I will dog her ’round,
It must-a be that old evil spirit so deep down in the ground.
You may bury my body down by the highway side,
You may bury my body down by the highway side,
So my old evil spirit can get a Greyhound bus and ride.
Hear one chorus of a 12-bar
blues
Listen carefully to the background vocals
to hear when the chords change.
Here's the complete song ...
see if you can follow the 12-bar form
Hound
Dog by Elvis Presley
listen to Big Mama Thornton's version of "Hound Dog"
