The Blues

Blues"Social ,and economic, and somewhat spiritual. As in relation to man kinds loneliness. The term blues derived from an African American man named W.C. Handy somewhere around 1903. After writing a song called "Yellow Dog Blues" the term Blues became popular. Yellow Dog being the name of the Yazoo and Mississippi Valley Railroad. Eventually adopting elements similar to Ragtime. Later bringing on the infamous 12 bar blues role. W.C. went on to write "Memphis Blues" around the time of 1912. The so called father of the Blues went on to bridge the gap of Blues,Ragtime,and Jazz. The growth of the Blues went on into the later years of the 1920's. Where at that time female singers got into the mix of things. Both Country and Blues started becoming popular with record company's around this time.                                         "Information From Wikipedia"                                          Personally I have a great respect for the founders of the Blues. As I can relate to a lot of the lyrics. I think we all can to a certain extent. Staying humble in the face of despair. These men and women managed through the years to share feelings and bless us with their talent. As it has evolved on down through the years the root of the Blues is the same. Country music having striking similarities to the blues also has had a lot of influence on me through the years. There was much more to the history of the Blues. I only used bits and pieces in my blog. Just to give you an idea of what the Blues are about and where they come from. Everyone has their own Blues. Different degree's and different problems. The beauty of music is the same song can have several different meanings to different audiences. To you it says one thing to someone else another. Theres no set rule on that. Life on a daily basis gives us all the material in the world for the Blues. Its all in how you decide to accept it. There has to be some sacrifice from for the hard lived life. Maybe some by choice maybe not. Meaning maybe your choice of lifestyle is what led to your material. Or maybe you never had a choice. You just played the hand life dealt you. Nobody knows what struggles you have had. You cant measure your pain with someone else's either. Pain is pain no matter what your own personal scale is. That's where you will find healing in your own music. For me it comes and go's. Everyone gets their turn. To me its easy to be confident when every things going good. But to maintain when your at a low is what makes up your character. For some you become accustom to this way of living. You see I think everyone has their own calling in life. For some its a steady job working where your dad did. Raising a family on a couple acres with a white picket fence. Never venturing or questioning what else could have been out there. Never taking risks or chancing a loss. That's safe and a lot of people find happiness in that. Ive been there and found happiness in it myself at one time. Wife,kids, and a dog. Little house your average Joe job doing what I could for them to get by. As fate would have it with several other contributing factors. That didn't last. Partly my fault and partly not. Honest fact is even in those moments I couldn't help wondering if that was all there was to life. I mean I love my son more than anything and I'm thankful God blessed me with him. I just think for some of us that restless feeling never go's away. Which in turn leads to more events in life that give us great songwriting material. Seems as soon  as things are good "or what others call good" I get bored . Anyone else ever feel like that? These times usually make for a great story the next day...or however long it would take to find your way home. While laughing with your friends at wherever your drunken journey took you. Its probably left you in way worse shape than what you thought you were in to begin with. But you have your stories and memories. While they probably enjoyed their casual social evening  evening of little excitement. That's ok to each their own. Just know that for those of us who never tame that wondering feeling of restlessness. It comes with great sacrifice as I mentioned earlier. Sure you will think about what might have been and wonder what it might have been like if you hadn't taken that chance. Swallowed your pride and allowed yourself to be consumed by whatever play it safe honorable take the high road type of behavior. Or you will live with your actions of not. Many of our great musical legends died early deaths just for that very type of behavior. But they shared something with us that lives on to this very day. Their story's they told in their music. From Blues to Country and all other genre's of music. That's what makes it life. For some of us that's what makes the Blues so therapeutic. No ill never know the feeling of an ordinary life or what most would call normal. But most wont ever get to experience the great times and extreme adventures Ive had either. The clarity that came with each of these choices is that while they may cost you by worldy standards great consequence. The decision not to came with an even greater one.For some of us its the only way to know were still alive. In the end there is no normal life....there is only life.Thats just my opinion though. Till next time. Stay musical