Lyrics for picking tunes

Subject: RE: Lyrics for picking tunes
From: The Og
Date: 30 Mar 26 - 08:57 PM

Sing a more generic tune ...more like a bass would do.

Subject: RE: Lyrics for picking tunes
From: GUEST,gillymor
Date: 30 Mar 26 - 02:34 PM

Nicely put together, reminds me of my berry-picking youth. It can't be an easy one to sing, given the tune.
Michelle Shocked, who seems to have fallen off the planet, put words to it as well on her Arkansas Traveler album.

Subject: Lyrics for picking tunes
From: The Og
Date: 30 Mar 26 - 12:29 PM

A number of "picking tunes" have lyrics, others do not. I wrote these for Blackberry Blossom a few years ago and thought I'd share...

Blackberry Blossom (G)                
…lyrics by Bill Ogden © 2023

G                  D               C                   G
Midsummer memories, hot without a hint of breeze,
C                G                      A                      D
Blackberry pickers gather underneath the trees.
G                            D                   C                      G
Baskets, buckets, gunny sacks, sweat pouring down our backs,
C                        G                      D                               G
Looking for the berries, we can take back home and eat.

Blackberry blossom time, over hills and vales we climb,
Looking for the places where the berries will appear,
In the shade or in the sun, picking can be lots of fun,
Blossoms lead to berries, later in the year.

    Em
    Blackberries blossom, in May and June,
                                                                B
    White or pink flowers, and a catchy tune.
    Em
    Later in the summer when, the days are long,
    G               C                         D          G
    Ripe blackberries, well you can’t go wrong.

Blackberries are a type, only pick ‘em when they’re ripe,
Fat, black, and full of sugar, talk about a treat,
You can pick them by the tons, only take the ripest ones,
Let the others linger in the sultry summer heat
    _ _ _

In a cake or in a pie, get yourself a new supply,
Blossoms, lead to berries, is a link you cannot miss.
Take along a girl or two, hiking can be good for you,
Pick ’em as you see ‘em, you might even get a kiss.
    _ _ _