Well, I'm no blues expert, but I always liked the "last blues lyric," which starts

"I didn't wake up this morning!"

In fact, I liked it so much I tried my hand at writing the rest of that particular song, with the help of some on-line friends. Here's the result. (The tune is pretty standard blues fare, but I can't point to a recorded example to show what it sounds like, so use your imaginations.)

Ultimate Blues


Didn't get up this morning, didn't even get out of my bed.
But when I didn't miss my baby is when I knew that I was dead.

Didn't make no coffee, didn't look down in my cup.
Didn't say "Good mornin'!" to the blues, ‘cause I never did wake up!

Refrain:

I got them never no mo', done dead for sho' Blues!


Didn't drink no wine fo' breakfast, no whiskey jus' before bed,
Didn't end the day by bein' dead drunk, 'Cause I started it bein' dead.

Didn't place no bet on the ponies, an' I don't know which is worse --
To find your horse come in dead last or to find out you're dead first.

Refrain

Now, I cried when my baby left me, but it didn't do no good.
But I missed her till my dyin' day, just like I said I would!

Didn't take no train to Memphis, the place I left to roam,
But I'll ride there in my coffin -- jes' finished dyin' to go home.

Refrain


They'll bury me tomorrow, let me rest these weary bones
But I'd rather not wake up at all, than keep waking up alone.

Now, when I face my maker at judgement, I know just what I'll do.
Tell him I lived until I died, it was all that I could do.

Refrain

Didn't get up this morning, didn't even get out of my bed.
But when I didn't miss my baby is when I knew that I was dead!

Refrain

Copyright 1997, Bob Clayton, Pete Kraemer, & Donald Duncan. All rights reserved.