Frequently the subject of blues songs has to do with some challenge or problem faced by the writer. Everyone faces personal chal
lenges. Sometimes music helps us deal with these problems. Do you know of times when music has helped you or people that you know cope with difficult situations? Think about your life experiences and challenges or the experiences of someone you know. Then write your own twelve-bar blues song that describes one such experience that you or another person has had.
Your blues song should have three verses. You may write a fourth verse for extra credit. Each verse you write should have three phases and should be written in call-and-response form. The first two phases of each verse should describe the experience, challenge, or problem and should act as your “call” phrases. The third phrase should describe the solution to your challenge or problem, or the next step in your story, and should act as your “response” phrase. Review “Sneaker Blues” to see an example of a call-and-response song with three verses.
“Sneaker Blues”
My sneakers got a hole and my feet are killing me;
My sneakers got a hole and my feet are killing me;
I’m gonna get my sneakers fixed just you wait and see.
The man said twenty dollars; you have got to be kidding me;
The man said twenty dollars; you have got to be kidding me;
Twenty dollars is what he said, I might have to let them be.
The hole in my sneakers is getting bigger every day;
The hole in my sneakers is getting bigger every day;
Twenty dollars is what he said, that’s what I’ll have to pay.
Write your song title and verses as the answers to the questions. After you have written your song, try putting it to music using one of the online music samples.
