TRACK 6 (WILLIAMS/DAVIS)

We just strung up a couple of mics and went thru this one once, pretty much as you hear it here. It's that kind of song.

Hank, who always seemed to me to be one of the most sincere singer/songwriterswriters ever, used to say "Just call it three chords, and the truth' about the kind of songs he sang.

That pretty much sums it up for me. No, most of us have never been 'locked here in this cell, till my body's just a shell' nor have most of us ever 'got in trouble had to roam, left my gal and left my home,' but we can all use these visuals for for representations of our own lives. I've always felt that that was the true beauty and genius of Hank Williams' songs. 

We may have never walked in the shoes of the protagonist of this song, but I'll tell you this much, we've all heard that lonesome whistle blow in one way or another.

 Track 5

First off, let me state: This song is NOT autobiographical. I have never called into work sick when I was really drunk! Hell, I would have gone right in!

Secondly, I've never gambled away a whole paycheck. Sure, I've drank 'em all up before, but there's a difference. Everybody knows that when you're tanked, you can't possibly be responsible for your actions!!!

Thirdly, I've never had unprotected sex. Shit, I don't even think I've ever even had sex.

Jerry Stone (Jerome godbout) Track 4

 Alec jumps in to talk a bit about his song:

MR. BLUES (Fraser) track 3

The theme on this tune is about sometimes being your own worst enemy. If there ever was a classic case of self projection then this is it. It would be nice to blame all our troubles on someone else; Hell the devil made me do it! but we all know that`s just bullshit. If you screw up, the least you can do is admit it and try not to do it again, you schmuck. Thats what I`m doing here. Mr Blues is really the darker side of myself. The one that drank, gambled and ruined the love of a good woman etc The younger and stupider me. But hey! I actually like playing this song.

Joe says that it defines the Brokenjoe sound. That`s a great complement coming from the guy that got this show on the road.

Jerome plays some mighty fine misery whistle on this track. It`s a side of Jerome that his fans haven`t heard until now and should make most harmonica players jaws drop to their feet.

Mr Blues is everything I love about blues and old country all wrapped up into one song and when I sing it I`m really just singing to myself.

Move over Sybil, Mr Blues is here.

 I'm gonna try to post a daily blurb about every song on the disc. An introduction to each of our  little bastard children, if you will……

2) OMIE WISE (traditional)

The first version of this song that I ever heard was by Doc Watson on an album that my dad had. My pops is a big folk/traditional music fan, so it's no wonder that all this old music is filtering thru me. He used to take me to shows all the time when I was a kid. I remember seeing Doc, and his (now deceased) son Merle play together in a school auditorium in Ottawa. Dad used to drive up here (Toronto) each summer in the early '70's to catch the Mariposa Folk Festival when it was held on the islands at the front of the city……

This song dates back to at least 1808, and tells the story of a young girl named Omie who falls for/is duped by a ne'er-do-well named John Lewis. Poor Omie gets pregnant, and then is murdered by Lewis, because he really doesn't want to quit his rambling ways and settle down.

I particularly like the lyrics at the end of the song where Lewis states:

"My name is John Lewis

My name I'll never deny

I murdered my one true love

And her name was Omie Wise."

More unrepentant defiance….

Jerome plays some spooky little fills/screams on his harp throughout. Alec pounds out the rhythm on his bass while holding down the groove.

I'm gonna try to post a daily blurb about every song on the disc. An introduction to each of our  little bastard children, if you will……

Taken from Dock Boggs' 'Country Blues' which in turn was taken from an old song called 'Hustling Gamblers.'

I spoke about Dock Boggs earlier, and this is my favorite of the old traditional songs that he used to sing. There's something kind of oddly soothing about a song where everything's going to shit, but you've still got the gumption left in you to tell everybody to kiss your ass………     I think we did it justice.

Beautifully incorrigible. Kinda reminds me of Beaudelaire's 'Rebel.'

Finally finished! Seventeen songs for your listening pleasure….. or something…..

Seventeen songs about death, murder, drugs, apathy, booze, trains, jail, eternal damnation, and suicide, as seen thru the eyes of a bunch of reprobates, miscreants, insouciant roustabouts,  etc. etc. (no songs about sex please…….. we're too old for that)

You can listen to some samples by clicking on the 'music' header at the top of this page.

I'm gonna get my buddy Stanton to set up a paypal button on the site forthwith, so's it can be bought-i-fied by whomever.

 Book I'm currently reading: 'Suttree' by Cormac McCarthy.  So far, so good. Not as violent and brooding as 'Blood Meridian' or 'No Country for Old Men', but engrossing nonetheless. McCarthy's a master of dialogue

Last cd listened to: 'Good For What Ails You.' (music from the medicine shows 1926-1937)

Wonderful old stuff. And Most of it's in tune! Old Hat records has got to be one of the best for reissuing obscure old time music sides.

A couple of little tips on how to live forever -or at least make it seem that way.

1. Get addicted to drugs, cigarettes, booze……… hell,  just about anything'll do. Now quit.  Trust me, life will seem to be taking forever. Better yet, do 'em all; preferably one right after another, and it'll seem like you've added centuries to your life span.

2. Try to master an instrument. I've been playing this goddamned banjo now for a few years. And I mean playing. Sure, I'm definitely improving all the time, but sometimes it sure feels slow. Now, don't get me wrong; I love the challenge, and the thrill that comes with really being able to do something not only right, but properly. Amazingly enough, I'll be damned if I ain't adding years to my life in the process. Time slows to a trickle…… Voila!! General Relativity. The grey matter in my head is causing the space and time around me to curve.