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When BB Sings The Blues

by Peter O'Donnell

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about

I wrote this song as a tribute to my hero BB King. In 2003 I met him at his club in Memphis where I played my Gibson 335 guitar on stage. BB gave me his plectrum and signed the guitar as well as the card.
I'm pleased the guitar is now being played by my son Alastair O'Donnell
I currently have two albums of classic blues and this song is featured on Into The Blue.

lyrics

WHEN BB SINGS THE BLUES

WHEN BB SINGS THE BLUES, THE MOUNTAINS SHAKE

WHEN BB PLAYS GUITAR, YOU FEEL THE EARTH QUAKE

WHEN BB SINGS THE BLUES, WHEN BB PLAYS THE BLUES

WHEN BB SINGS THE BLUES, WHEN BB PLAYS THE BLUES

BORN IN MISSISSIPPI, TO THE GOSPEL CROWD

HE WOULD STAND ON A STREET CORNER, PLAY THE BLUES OUT LOUD



HE WORKED AS A BOY, HELD THE REINS OF A MULE

A COTTON PICKER WORKING IN THE FIELDS

AT THE AGE OF NINE HE WOULD SING THE HOLLER

AN OLD SLAVE CHANT, THAT COULD EARN HIM A DOLLAR


HE MADE HIS FIRST GUITAR. WITH COTTON BALE WIRE

USED AN OLD BROOM, DREAMS OF GOING FAR

MISTER FLAKE CARTLEDGE, BIG BOSS MAN

LENT HIM FIFTEEN DOLLARS, BOUGHT HIS FIRST GUITAR


SATURDAY NIGHTS, HE'D LEAVE THE FIELDS FOR TOWN

GO LISTEN TO BASIE, PARKER, WHEN THEY'RE AROUND

YOUNG RILEY KING, PLAYED FOR THE LADIES, THEY SAY

SWIVEL OF THE WRIST, CALLED THE BUTTERFLY SOUND


A FIRE STARTED AT A JUKE JOINT GIG

A KEROSENE CONTAINER, THE CROWD ALL FLED

BB REALISED HIS GUITAR WAS IN THERE

LUCILLE WAS BORN, HE COULD HAVE BEEN DEAD

THREE HUNDRED SHOWS, EVERY YEAR

HEALING PEOPLE WITH THE BLUES, EVERYWHERE

ON THE ROAD, ON A BUS, IN A BOAT, IN THE AIR

WHEN BB PLAYS THE BLUES, YOU SHOULD BE THERE

credits

released December 18, 2018
Music mixed and co-produced by Jozef Rytlewski and Peter O'Donnell

license

all rights reserved

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about

Peter O'Donnell image

Peter O'Donnell Hastings, UK

Nothing to prove. Been there, doing this.

Writing songs, lounge lizard crooning, thrill's never gone blues.

The world may have changed but there is still time to dream.

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