SOme good observations, here. Thanks for the links, Susan. And to you Greg for talking music, with notes and all those things... scales..

Being semi-illerate musically, I have to go by feel as much as anything. It's hard for me to analyse the two forms of music in musical terms. But, I suppose that it isn't surprising that the two forms of music are connected. They both reflect on the human condition, often in a very stark way. Another Man Done Gone and He Never Said A mumblin' Word both talk about death, and many gospel songs (at least black gospel) talk about suffering, being mistreated and betrayed not that differently from the blues.

Thomas Dorsey is a wonderful example, Greg. Precious Lord Take My Hand may have a different scale than a blues, but the lines about storms, darkness and night falling would fit comfortably into a blues song.

I hope that D.W. Ditty is reading all of this..

Jerry