OK, Which Blues Songs for Children?

Subject: OK, Which Blues Songs for Children?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 02 Sep 02 - 01:39 AM

Never mind how I got to THIS one, just tell me what blues songs you know that would work well for children with a MINIMUM of editing, because I think they oughtta get their blues straight (or bent) like the rest of us.

Kids these days MUST have the BLUES!!!!!!!!!!!!

~Susan

Subject: RE: OK, Which Blues Songs for Children?
From: masato sakurai
Date: 02 Sep 02 - 02:19 AM

Susan, how about the ones on Big Blues: Blues Music for Kids.

~Masato

Subject: RE: OK, Which Blues Songs for Children?
From: Venthony
Date: 02 Sep 02 - 02:35 AM

I know my teacher hates me Lord she's big and fat (Good Gawd!) I know my teacher hates me Oh man, she's so big and fat And when we play ball at recess No one ever lets me bat

They sent me to the principal Said I had A-D-D Sent me to the office Said I had A-D-D They ast' me what was wrong So I just said I had to pee

Ya know I got a woman Just a cute as she can be She held my hand at recess for the big kids all to see But when I pulled her pigtails That good gal went and tol' on me

Refrain: (All my love's in vain ...)

Soulfully yers, Tony

Subject: RE: OK, Which Blues Songs for Children?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 02 Sep 02 - 11:00 AM

Wheeeeeeeeee!

~S~

Subject: RE: OK, Which Blues Songs for Children?
From: CraigS
Date: 02 Sep 02 - 05:04 PM

The Robot Blues by Robin Williamson, to be found on Wee Tam and the Big Huge by the Incredible String Band - not too traditional (made in Scotland)

The Mississippi Moan by the Mississippi Moaner (Isiah Nettles) is a real blues without too many bad habits.

The works of Leroy Carr and Scrapper Blackwell are mainly suitable for children's ears, although I wouldn't like to try explaining The Dirty Dozens to a child!

Subject: RE: OK, Which Blues Songs for Children?
From: GUEST,Russ
Date: 03 Sep 02 - 10:08 AM

My guess is that the stuff in traditional blues is much tamer than the stuff they are exposed to on a daily basis. Assuming of course that they watch TV, listen to the radio, read the paper, talk to their friends, etc.

Subject: RE: OK, Which Blues Songs for Children?
From: GUEST,Fred Miller
Date: 03 Sep 02 - 11:20 AM

Corrina Corrina, is one I do. Good morning blues--I think the version I do is from John Renborne, a lot of instrumental guitar. Nothing in Ramblin, I got from Lucinda Williams. And for my own kids around at home I, um, never mind. Some you can just drop a verse or two, some sexual references are so inscrutible and improbable, they'd be just goofy, fine for kids, it's really more a question of freaking out any adults. Taj Mahal does some nice blues tunes, but I'm still trying to figure out why they sound so rich and subtle when he sings them, and a bit trite when I do.

Subject: RE: OK, Which Blues Songs for Children?
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 03 Sep 02 - 11:49 AM

I woke up in the morning, there were three of us in the bed.
Yeah - I woke up in the morning, there were three of us in the bed.
I reached for my wife's titties, there was a baby there instead.

Subject: RE: OK, Which Blues Songs for Children?
From: Wesley S
Date: 03 Sep 02 - 11:53 AM

Several songs by Mississippi John Hurt would work. I think the Chicken Song is right up that alley. Also "Fishin" Blues" would seem to be a good choice.

Subject: RE: OK, Which Blues Songs for Children?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 03 Sep 02 - 12:05 PM

Thanks guys!

~S~

Subject: Lyr Add: ROOSTER BLUES (J. West/Lightnin' Slim)
From: Rolfyboy6
Date: 03 Sep 02 - 10:26 PM

Lightnin' Slim the Swamp Blues great (Excello Records--now on Hip-o Records) did one that the kids love: Rooster Blues. It's on the CD called ROOSTER BLUES, an all time classic.


ROOSTER BLUES
Written by J West
As recorded by Lightnin' Slim, 1959.

Oh well the little red rooster said to the little red hen
Ain't been around since God knows when
The little red hen told the little red rooster
You don't come around now daddy like you used to
We got to rock the night baby
We got to rock the night baby
We got to rock the night baby yes we got to rock the night

Oh well the old black cat told the little grey mouse
I got a mind to chase you 'round this house
The little grey mouse told the old black cat
Said looka here dad don't treat me like that
We got to rock the night baby
We got to rock the night baby
We got to rock the night baby yes we got to rock the night

Oh well the little green frog told the big black snake
Said come on daddy let's swim in the lake
The big black snake told the little green frog
Said I'm gonna lay here on this log
I've got to rock the night baby
I've got to rock the night baby
I've got to rock the night baby yes I'm gonna rock with you

Let's rock awhile...

Oh well the pink alligator told the old crocodile
Just hang around baby I'm gon' kiss you after while
The crocodile said to the pink alligator
You got to kiss me now dad and I'll hang around later
We got to rock the night baby
We got to rock the night baby
We got to rock the night baby yes we got to rock the night

Well come on let's rock some baby...

Rooster Blues Cover and links

Subject: RE: OK, Which Blues Songs for Children?
From: Bobert
Date: 03 Sep 02 - 10:36 PM

Woke up this mornin'... Lego's in my mind... Said, woke up this mornin'... legos in myyyyy mind... Yeah, when you've been dreamin' legos... Makes your Raggi-d-Annir so hard to find...

(Ahhhh, shoot, Bobert! You don't know nothin' 'bout no kids blues...)

Well, do you?

(Nah...)

What is kids blues anyway. Like "Casey Jones", ot what.

Okay, how about Waylon Jennings' "Waymore Blues".

(Yeah, Bobert, that would work well with kids. Not real bluesu but, hey, got lots of good kids images. Yeah, I like it.)

Okay

Woke up this morning... Drizzle and rain... 'Round the curve came a passanger train... Heard somebody yodle and a hobo moan, "Jimmie, he dead and a long time gone. Long time gone...

If you want to get to Heaven ya got to D I E... Gotta put on your coat and D I E... Wanta get the rabbit out the L O G.. Gotta make a cool motion like a D O G....

And so forth.... Fuin sing for kids but it ain't like down and dirty Delta stuff that has 'em askin', "Ms Susan, what's it mean by__________________?

Bobert

p.s. If you'd like to hear it I'd be glad to tape it for ya'. I've used it with kids myself....

Subject: RE: OK, Which Blues Songs for Children?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 03 Sep 02 - 11:21 PM

Yes, Bobert, PM me when it's done and I'll cough up an address. Mine even! *G*

Rolfyboyo, you gave me LYRICS!!! I wish everyone else would too!

Thanks!

Blues jumped a rabbit, and he ran a solid mile....

~Susan

Subject: RE: OK, Which Blues Songs for Children?
From: GUEST,Fred Miller
Date: 04 Sep 02 - 09:40 AM

There's something about the emphatic BADNESS of Stagger Lee that kids respond to, but I can't tell what they make of it. He was a BAAD man.

Subject: RE: OK, Which Blues Songs for Children?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 04 Sep 02 - 10:17 AM

I bet they imagine all the BAD stuff they'd like to do. Or all the BAAAD stuff done to them. Pobably both, that juxtapostion making for good shivery tingles.

~Susan

Subject: Lyr Add: DUNCAN AND BRADY
From: Rolfyboy6
Date: 04 Sep 02 - 09:01 PM

Kids like this 'pre-blues' bad man ballad. They especially like the "'Lectric car" and "When the women all heard that King Brady was dead they went on home and dressed in red" (some versions use "and they really ragged in red". Leadbelly did a fine version of this.

Duncan And Brady
Traditional Twinkle, twinkle, little star
'Long came Brady in his 'Lectric car
Got a mean look right in his eye
Gonna shoot somebody just to see him die
He been on the job too long.

Duncan, Duncan was attending the bar
'Long came Brady with his shiny star
"Brady," said Duncan, "you are under arrest."
Duncan shot a hole right in Brady's chest
He been on the job too long.

Old King Brady was a big, fat man
Doctor looked down, and took hold of his hand
Reached for his pulse, the doctor said
"I believe to my soul, king Brady's dead."
He been on the job too long.

When the women all heard King Brady was dead,
They went home and they dressed in red
Slippin' and a-slidin', shufflin' down the street,
In their big mother hubbards and their stockin' feet.
He been on the job too long.

"Brady, Brady, you know you done wrong
Breakin' in here when this game's goin' on
Bustin' down the window, tearin' down the door
Now you're lyin' dead on the barroom floor
You been on the job too long".

Twinkle, twinkle, little star
'Long comes Brady in his 'lectric car
Got a mean look in his eye
Gonna shoot somebody jus' to watch him die
He been on the job too long.

Leadbelly Legacy Vol. 1 "Where did you sleep last night?

Subject: RE: OK, Which Blues Songs for Children?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 25 Apr 04 - 09:47 AM

Also see:

Blues songs for kids?

~S~