"Songs About Musicians"
Songwriter are always looking for new subjects,
and it’s funny how few songs are written
about the people who play music.
Here are two I wrote to fill that void.
First, “The Family Band”.
This is about amateurs who love to get together and pick.
With a slightly red face,
I admit that I wrote it after listening to “Daddy Sang Bass”.
THE FAMILY BAND.
(Fast waltz with wildlife.)
Grandma found a brand new sound
Tickling her canary. (Bird trill)
Lord, she made that poor thing sing
'Til it wasn't sanitary.
Uncle Pete kept the beat
Squeezing on a frog (Croak).
Baby sister raised a blister
Gumming on the dog. (Dog bark optional.)
(Musical interlude here for twin fiddles, bird, and frog.)
Old aunt Grace sang the bass.
Grampa sang soprano.
Papa Joe ran his toes
Up and down the old piano.
We could never understand
Why Mama ran away,
'Cause we were all in hog heaven
When the Family Band would play.
(All together now, with a Mexican feeling!)
Ay ay-------(Croak) (Tweet)
Ay ay-------(Croak) (Tweet)
Ay ay-------(Croak) (Tweet)
Ay ay-------(Croak) (Tweet)
(And, of course, a retarded ending.)
* * *
The next one is about a band that was really good,
but lost their steady gig anyway.
I’ve known these bands,
and have even been in a couple.
RUSTY AND THE COWBOYS.
(Chorus)
Rusty and The Cowboys don't play here anymore.
They took their picture down from the wall out by the door.
They tried their best to play requests,
Put their hearts in every song.
Now Rusty And The Cowboys are gone.
Rusty went to Nashville,
I heard somebody say.
Curly moved to Macon,
Or someplace down that way.
Clyde's out selling siding,
But he hasn't made a sale.
Buck went back to drinkin',
And Jack went back to jail.
There's a new bunch up there singin' now
But I don't know their names
The register's still ringin'
And the crowd's about the same
But Rusty and The Cowboys
Had everything it takes
And I think they might have made it
If they'd only got the breaks
Rusty and The Cowboys don't play here anymore
They took their picture down from the wall out by the door
They tried their best to play requests
Put their hearts in every song
Now Rusty and The Cowboys…
Are gone
* * *
Recorded by Jack Blanchard & Misty Morgan
Copyright © November 2, 2005 by Jack Blanchard. All rights reserved.
Lyrics © Jack Blanchard Songs (BMI). All rights reserved.
