Blues Broadway

Blues singer Bessie Smith (1894-1937)

W. C. Handy “father of the blues” (1873-1958)St. Louis Blues, 1914

1925 recordingBessie Smith (vocals), Louis Armstrong (cornet), Fred Longshaw (harmonium)

I hate to see the evening sun go downI hate to see the evening sun go downIt makes me think of all my life go around. (12-bar blues chorus)

Feelin' tomorrow like I feel todayFeelin' tomorrow like I feel todayI'll pack my grip and make my getaway. (12-bar blues chorus)

St. Louis woman with her diamond ringsPulls that man around by herapron strings Not want for powder and this store-bought hairThe man I love wouldn’t go nowhere, nowhere. (16-bar verse in minor)

I got them St. Louis blues, just as blue as I can beHe’s got a heart like a rock cast in the seaOr else he would not go so far from me. (12-bar blues chorus)

12-bar blues form:

I (4 bars of 4 beats) - IV (2 bars) - I (2 bars) - V (2 bar) - IV (1 bar) - I (2 bars)

George Gershwin (1898-1937), composer

Ira Gershwin (1896-1983), lyricist-librettist

1924 Lady, Be Good

1926 Oh, Kay!

1927 Funny Face

1930 Strike Up the Band

1931 Of Thee I Sing

1935 Porgy and Bess

George Gershwin (lyrics by Ira Gershwin)

―The Man I Love‖ (1924) [originally from Lady, Be Good musical]

(verse-refrain [AABA] form; popular song form)

E-flat major, 4/4

INTRODUCTION (4-bar piano prelude)

VERSE (2 eight-bar phrases)

When the mellow moon begins to beam, ev’ry night I dream a little dream, and of course Prince Charming is the theme, the he for me.

Although I realize as well as you, it is seldom that a dream comes true, to me it’s clear that he’ll appear.

CHORUS (4 eight-bar phrases, AABA form, B in C Minor)

Someday he’ll come along, the man I love; and he’ll be big and strong, the man I love; and when he comes my way, I’ll do my best to make him stay.

He’ll look at me and smile, I’ll understand; and in a little while he’ll take my hand and though it seems absurd, I know we both won’t say a word.

Maybe I shall meet him Sunday, maybe Monday, maybe not; still I’m sure to meet him one day, maybe Tuesday will be my good news day.

He’ll build a little home, just meant for two, from which I’ll never roam, who would—would you?—and so all else above I’m waiting for the man I love.

Textbook version sung by Ella Fitzgerald

Jerome Kern (1885-1945) (composer) and Oscar Hammerstein (1895-1960) (lyricist)

―Can’t Help Lovin’ Dat Man‖ (rec. 1928) from Show Boat (1927)

Julie LaVerne:

Let me lay on my back in a forty-dollar hat. No more gin, no more rum, all that mis’ry’s done cuz…

CHORUS (aaba form; only first half voice)

Fish got to swim, birds got to fly, I got to love one man till I die; can't help lovin' dat man of mine. (a - 8 bars)

Tell me he's lazy, tell me he's slow, tell me I'm crazy, (maybe I know); can't help lovin' dat man of mine (a – 8 bars)

INTERLUDE (12-bars, orchestra)

VERSE (12-bars)

Oh listen sister,

I love my mister man,

And I can't tell you' why

Dere ain't no reason

Why Ishould love dat man,

It mus' be sumpin dat de angels done plan.

CHORUS (aaba form)

Fish got to swim, birds got to fly, I got to love one man till I die; can't help lovin' dat man of mine. (a - 8 bars)

Tell me he's lazy, tell me he's slow, tell me I'm crazy, (maybe I know); can't help lovin' dat man of mine. (a - 8 bars)

When he goes away, that’s a rainy day, but when he comes back that day, it’s fine the sun will shine. (b - 8 bars)

He can come home as late as can be home without him ain’t no home to me; can’t help lovin’ dat man of mine. (a - 8 bars)