Living in America - James Brown

 

James Brown (1933-2006)

I Live in America: San Fran, Seattle, Portland, Vancouver, WA!

'Somewhere along the Way, You must find out who you are!'

Watch and listen to James Brown, "Living in America"

Flag Up for Fourth of July!

Harmonica: Another Day in Paradise

Another Day in Paradise

By Phil Collins
1989

Diatonic Harmonica
Key of C Major

 

VERSE 1

6    -6    7  -6  6  -5  5  -4    5 

She calls out to the man on the street 

  7    -6   6  -5   7 

"Sir, can you help me? 

  6   7   -6    6   -5   5  -4    5 

It's cold and I've no-where to sleep, 

 6   6    -6   7    -6   6   -5   7 

Is there some-where you can tell me?" 

VERSE 2 

 6    -6    7   -6  6     -5       4 

He   walks on,  doesn't  look    back 

 7    -6   6   -5   5    6     7

He   pre tends he  can't hear her 

 6      7  -6   6   -5  5   -4   5  -6    6

Starts to whis tle  as  he cros ses the street 

 6     6   -6    -6    6   -5   7

Seems  em  bar rassed to  be  there 

 

CHORUS

-7   6   6        -4    5 

Oh Think twice, 'cause it's  

 5 6   6  -5   5   -5  5 -5  5   -5  6   6 

An oth er day for you and me in  par a dise 

-7   6    6     -4    5 

Oh Think twice cause it's  

5  6   6  -5  5   -5    -5   6   -5   5  5 

a no ther day for you, you  in par a dise 

   4   -4   4 -4   5 

 just think about  it 

 

VERSE 3

6    -6    7  -6  6   -5  5  -4   5 

She calls out to the man on the street 

 7  -6   6   -5     5    6     7

He  can see she's been  cry ing 

6      7  -6   6   -5  5   -4   -5  -6    6

She's got blisters on the soles of her feet 

6    6    -6    7   -6   -5  7

She can't walk but she's trying 

 

 [CHORUS]  

 

 VERSE 4

 6    -5   5  -5   5 

Just think a-bout it 

 7  -6 

Oh lord! 

-5   6   -5   -5   -5     -5 5  -5  5    7   7 

Is there noth ing more    a  ny bo dy   can do? 

-7   7 

Oh lord! 

  5   -5    6  -5   -5   -5    5   7 

There must be some thing you can say 

 

 VERSE 5

6    -6   7  -6    6   -5    5  -4   5 

You can tell from the lines on her face 

 7   -6   6  -5   5     6        7

You can see that she's been there 

6    7    -6    6    -5   5    -4  -5  -6    6

Pro bably she  moved  on  from  ev ‘ry  place 

 6      6  -6   7   -6   6  -5   7

Cause  she did n't  fit  in  there 

 [CHORUS]

 

Harmonica: I Just Called to Say I Love You by Stevie Wonder

 

I Just Called to Say I Love You

Stevie Wonder

Key of C Major Harmonica

 

NO   NEW   YEARS   DAY   TO   CEL-E-BRATE          3       -4             4             4        3      -4     4      4     NO   CHOC-LATE   COV-ERED   CAN-DY   HEARTS   TO   GIVE   A-WAY      3        -4           4           4       -4           4     -5            6           -5        4       -4     -3     NO   FIRST   OF   SPRIN-G,   NO   SONG   TO   SING      -3        5        -5         -5       5     -3          5         5        -3     IN   FACT   HERES   JUST   AN-OTH-ER   OR-DI-NAR-Y   DAY     -3        5           -5           -5         5       5     -5      6     -5    5    -4       3     NO   A-PRIL   RAIN,   NO   FLOW-ERS   BLOOM      3     -4     4           4          3        -4         4             4     NO   WED-DING   SAT-UR-DAY   WITH-IN   THE   MONTH   OF   JUNE      3         -4        4          4     -4      4           -5        6      -5           4           -4       -3     BUT   WHAT   IT   I-S,   IS   SOME-THING   TRUE     -3             5        -5    -5  5     -3        5           5            -3     MADE   UP   OF   THESE   THREE   WORDS   THAT   I   MUST   SAY   TO   YOU     -3          5     -5         -5             5                5              -5       6       -5          4       -4        4     Chorus      I   JUST     CALLED   TO   SAY   I   LOVE   YOU     4      4              -3            4        -4     3       -4          4     I   JUST     CALLED   TO   SAY   HOW   MUCH   I   CARE     4      4               -3            4       -4          -3            3       -3       2     I   JUST     CALLED   TO   SAY   I   LO-VE   YOU     4     4               -3            4      -4       3   -5    6        5     AND   I   MEAN   IT   FROM   THE   BOT-TOM   OF   MY   HEART      5      5       -3         3        -2          -1         2       -1        2       -1           1    No summer's high No warm July No harvest moon to light one tender August night No autumn breeze No falling leaves Not even time for birds to fly to southern skies Chorus No Libra sun No Halloween No giving thanks to all the Christmas joy you bring But what it is, though old so new To fill your heart like no three words could ever do Chorus

And ... Put the Load Right On Me

The song "The Weight" by The Band, 1960's

Harmonica Version, Key of A

Here is a Playing for Change Version:

[Verse 1]
I pulled in to Nazareth
Was feeling 'bout half past dead
I just need someplace
Where I can lay my head
"Hey, mister, can you tell me
Where a man might find a bed?"
He just grinned and shook my hand
"No" was all he said

[Chorus]
Take a load off, Fanny
Take a load for free
Take a load off, Fanny
And (And, and)
You put the load right on me (You put the load right on me)

[Verse 2]
I picked up my bag
I went looking for a place to hide
When I saw Carmen and the Devil
Walking side-by-side
I said, "Hey Carmen
Come on, let's go downtown"
She said, "I gotta go
But my friend can stick around"

Chorus

[Verse 3]
Go down, Miss Moses
There's nothin' you can say
It's just ol' Luke, and
Luke's waitin' on the Judgement Day
"Well, Luke, my friend
What about young Anna Lee?"
He said, "Do me a favor, son
Won't ya stay and keep Anna Lee company?"

[Chorus]
And take a load off, Fanny
Take a load for free
Take a load off, Fanny
And (And, and)
You put the load right on me (You put the load right on me)

[Verse 4]
Crazy Chester followed me
And he caught me in the fog
He said, "I will fix your rack
If you'll take Jack, my dog"
I said, "Wait a minute, Chester
You know I'm a peaceful man"
He said, "That's okay, boy
Won't you feed him when you

Chorus Repeat

Harmonica Studies by Michael P. Garofalo
A Beginner's Notes, Research, Comments, Suggestions

"The Weight" Harmonica, by The Band, 1960's,
Harmonica Key of A

A  C#m  D  A    (x4)        
4   4  4    - 4  5  5 5 5  5 5   4   4 -4 4
I pulled into Nazareth, was feelin' about half past dead
4  4  4  - 4    5   5 5 5  5   5 4 4   6    4  
I just need some place where I can lay my head
 6   6  6   6   6    6  -6   5  5 5  5  4  4 -4  4
"Hey, mister, can you tell me where a man might find a bed?"
 4 4 4  - 4   5   5     5    5     5   5  4  4  -4 4
He just grinned and shook my hand, "no" was all he said  
 
44 55 66
 
A         D  (x3)
6 6 6  5 4 4     
Take a load off, Fanny
6 6 6  5 4 
Take a load for free
6 6 6  5 4 4 
Take a load off, Fanny
D           A
4 4 4 4 4 4 44 444 55 4 
And (and) (and) you put the load right on me

Harmonica Studies
A Beginners 
A  C#m  D  A    (x4)        
4   4  4    - 4  5  5 5 5  5 5   4   4 -4 4
I pulled into Nazareth, was feelin' about half past dead
4  4  4  - 4    5   5 5 5  5   5 4 4   6    4  
I just need some place where I can lay my head
 6   6  6   6   6    6  -6   5  5 5  5  4  4 -4  4
"Hey, mister, can you tell me where a man might find a bed?"
 4 4 4  - 4   5   5     5    5     5   5  4  4  -4 4
He just grinned and shook my hand, "no" was all he said  
 
44 55 66
 
A         D  (x3)
6 6 6  5 4 4     
Take a load off, Fanny
6 6 6  5 4 
Take a load for free
6 6 6  5 4 4 
Take a load off, Fanny
D           A
4 4 4 4 4 4 44 444 55 4 
And (and) (and) you put the load right on me


Harmonica Studies by Michael P. Garofalo
A Beginner's Notes, Research, Comments, Suggestions



Chords on
A Major Key Diatonic Harmonica

I     A Major   ACE  (Blow Holes 123
or 456 or 789 or any 2 or 3 adjacent holes)

IV   D Dyad   DF    
  (Draw 56 and Draw 9 10)

V    E Major   EGBD  (Draw Holes 234
or Draw Holes 1234)

      Gm Minor  GBD  
(Draw 345 and 789)

      E7   EGBD      (Draw
Holes 2-5)

      Em  BE         
 (Draw 12)

      Bm  
BDF         (Draw 456 and 89 10)

      Cross Harp, 2nd, play on D Key diatonic
harmonica.

      Key Signature: Three Sharps: C F G; A Major or
F#minor.

      I play: Lee Oskar Tombo Key of A




 

Disco Inferno: Burn Baby Burn

 

The Tramps will keep you dancing at your home disco for 11 minutes.  1980's disco! 
Take your shirts off and dance!

I like the horn section in bigger bands like Hewey Lewis and the News, Louis Prima, Tramps, etc.

Rock Me Mamma

I think the lyrics for the country western song titled Wagon Wheel was written by Ketch Secor of the Old Crow Medicine Show Band and Bob Dylan.

Here is an campy adult version of Wagon Wheel by the Old Crow Medicine Show.

Here is a version of Wagon Wheel by Darious Rucker:

Doctor, My Eyes

"Doctor, my eyes have seen the years
And the slow parade of fears without crying
Now I want to understand

I have done all that I could
To see the evil and the good without hiding
You must help me if you can

Doctor, my eyes
Tell me what is wrong
Was I unwise to leave them open for so long

'Cause I have wandered through this world
And as each moment has unfurled
I've been waiting to awaken from these dreams

People go just where they will
I never noticed them until I got this feeling
That it's later than it seems

Doctor, my eyes
Tell me what you see
I hear their cries
Just say if it's too late for me

Doctor, my eyes
Cannot see the sky
Is this the prize
For having learned how not to cry."

Doctor, My Eyes, 1972
By Jackson Browne

Heathen Holidays

Holiday by Madonna, 1983

"If we took a holiday

Took some time to celebrate
Just one day out of life
It would be
It would be so nice

Everybody spread the word
We're gonna have a celebration
All across the world
In every nation

It's time for the good times
Forget about the bad times, oh yeah
One day to come together to release the pressure
We need a holiday

If we took a holiday
Took some time to celebrate (come on let's celebrate)
Just one day out of life (holiday)
It would be
It would be so nice

You can turn this world around
And bring back all of those happy days
Put your troubles down
It's time to celebrate

Let love shine
And we will find
A way to come together
Can make things better
We need a holiday ..."

Heathen Holidays

Winter Solstice-Yule-Saturnalia

Young women and men dancing, bouncy, carefree, juvenile, lively, celebrating.  

Right Place at the Wrong Time

 

"I been in the right place
But it must have been the wrong time
I'd have said the right thing
But must have used the wrong line
I been on the right trip
But I must have used the wrong car
Head is in a bad place and I wonder what it's good for

I been in the right place 
But it must have been the wrong time

My head is in a bad place
But I'm having such a good time

I been running trying to get hung up in my mind
Really got to give myself a good talking to this time 
Just need a little brain salad surgery
Got to que my insecurity

I been in the wrong place
But it must have been the right time
I been in the right place
But it must have been the wrong song
I been in the right vein
But it seems like a wrong arm
I been in the right world
But it seems like wrong-wrong-wrong wrong-wrong

Slipping dodging sneaking creeping hiding down the street
See my life shaking with every who I meet
Refried confusion is making itself clear
Wonder which way do I go to get on out of here
I been in the right place
But it must have been the wrong time
I'd have said the right thing
But I must have used the wrong line
I took the right road
But I must have took a wrong turn
I took a right move
But I made it at the wrong time
I was in the right trip
But I made it in the wrong car
Head is in a good place and I wonder what it's bad for ..."

Dr. John, 1973
The bass line in this song seems to lift my spirits.

Dancing to the BeeGees

Dancing!  Fun!  Smile!  Exercise!  Memories ...   Do, stand up, move, and groove to Disco Dancing. 

John Travolta dancing in Saturday Night Fever (1977).  A dark and disturbing film.

Lovely to See You Again My Friend

 Music from the Moody Blues, 1969.

"A wonderful day for passing my way.
Knock and my door and even the score
With your eyes.

Lovely to see you again my friend.
Walk along with me to the next bend.

Dark cloud of fear is blowing away.
Now that you're hear, you're going to stay
'cause it's

Lovely to see you again my friend.
Walk along with me to the next bend.

Tells us what you've seen in faraway forgotten lands.
Where empires have turned back to sand.

Wonderful day for passing my way.
Knock and my door and even the score
With your eyes.

Lovely to see you again my friend.
Walk along with me to the next bend."




 

Jumpin Jack Flash - It's a Gas

 Life provides all kinds of disappointments, regrets, sorrows, failures, disappointments, tragedies, pain, suffering, disease, death ...  Despite all of these challenges we try our best to pick ourselves up by the bootstraps and carry on.  When the sorrow and grief subside, and the sky clears, we find ourselves in a position to stand up tall and walk on.  Carry on!  Set an example for courage and toughness, and acknowledge the good we can do and the joys and satisfactions that remain.  

We are Jumpin' Jack Flash, and despite the disappointments, Life is a Gas!   


"I was born in a cross-fire hurricane 
And I howled at my ma in the driving rain, 
But it's all right now, in fact, it's a gas! 
But it's all right.  I'm Jumpin' Jack Flash, 
It's a Gas!  Gas!  Gas!
  
I was raised by a toothless, bearded hag, 
I was schooled with a strap right across my back, 
But it's all right now, in fact, it's a gas! 
But it's all right, I'm Jumpin' Jack Flash, 
It's a Gas!  Gas!  Gas!
  
I was drowned, I was washed up and left for dead. 
I fell down to my feet and I saw they bled. 
I frowned at the crumbs of a crust of bread. 
Yeah, yeah, yeah 
I was crowned with a spike right thru my head. 
But it's all right now, in fact, it's a gas! 
But it's all right, I'm Jumpin' Jack Flash, 
It's a Gas!  Gas!  Gas!
  

Jumping Jack Flash, it's a gas 
Jumping Jack Flash, it's a gas 
Jumping Jack Flash, it's a gas 
Jumping Jack Flash, it's a gas."

-  Jumpin' Jack Flash by the Rolling Stones
   Lyrics by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards

   1968

   Purchase the MP3 version of Jumpin' Jack Flash from Amazon

ZZ Top

A documentary about the band ZZ Top is now available on Netflix.  This "Little Band from Texas" has been playing together for 5 decades.

I purchased the album Eliminator in Bishop, California, in September of 1984.  I played it first while driving to Mammoth Mountain from Bishop.  Ah, the memories.

Jumpin Jack Flash

When I start feeling a bit down, I play the song "Jumpin Jack Flash" by the Rolling Stones created in 1968.

We all have past and present difficulties, problems, negative experiences, frustrations, friends and family that get sick and die, we get old, people fail us and we fail others, disappointments mount, sadness pervades...  

BUT don't WHINE.  Jump Up, Jump Up.  Let go of the past.  Be like Jumpin Jack Flash.  Resurrect Yourself!  Count your Blessings, today!  Onward!

"But it's all right now, in fact, it's a gas!
But it's all right, Im Jumpin Jack flash,

It's a gas! gas! gas!"

Life is, for me, generally, a GAS!   It's a gas, gas, gas!



"I was born in a cross-fire hurricane
And I howled at my ma in the driving rain,
But it's all right now, in fact, it's a gas!
But it's all right. Im Jumpin Jack Flash,
Its a gas! gas! gas!





I was raised by a toothless, bearded hag,
I was schooled with a strap right across my back,
But it's all right now, in fact, it's a gas!
But it's all right, Im Jumpin Jack flash,
Its a gas! gas! gas!

I was drowned, I was washed up and left for dead.
I fell down to my feet and I saw they bled.
I frowned at the crumbs of a crust of bread.
Yeah, yeah, yeah
I was crowned with a spike right thru my head.
But it's all right now, in fact, it's a gas!
But it's all right, Im Jumpin Jack flash,
It's a gas! gas! gas!"

You Can't Dance and Stay Uptight

Dancing in the Moonlight
By King Harvest
1972

"We get it almost every night
When that moon gets big and bright
It's supernatural delight
Everybody was dancing in the moonlight

Everybody here is out of sight
They don't bark and they don't bite
They keep things loose, they keep things light
Everybody was dancing in the moonlight

Dancing in the moonlight
Everybody feeling warm and bright
It's such a fine and natural sight
Everybody's dancing in the moonlight

We like our fun and we never fight
You can't dance and stay uptight
It's supernatural delight
Everybody was dancing in the moonlight

Dancing in the moonlight
Everybody's feeling warm and bright
It's such a fine and natural sight
Everybody's dancing in the moonlight

Dancing in the moonlight
Everybody's feeling warm and bright
It's such a fine and natural sight
Everybody's dancing in the moonlight"

Credence Clearwater Revival Hits on the Harmonica

Credence Clearwater Revival Band  1969-1972

Looking for a Place to Happen with the Tragically Hip

The Place was Dodge City, Kansas; and the Happening was in June of 1972. 

Karen and I, driving in our orange Volkswagon bug, at the 100th meridian.

Driving for hours. Incredible thunder and lightening in Kansas.  Nervous.  Country kitchen breakfasts. Delightful lovemaking in small town motel rooms.  Smiling Americans.  Being young.  Wheat and Big Spaces!!! 

Karen and I have never been to Winnipeg in Canada like the Hip band, but we've been across parts of the Great Plains and the Great Basin and Mojave deserts many times.

“At the hundredth meridian,” by the Tragically Hip band, 1992.

“Me debunk an American myth?
And take my life in my hands?
Where the great plains begin,
At the hundredth meridian
At the hundredth meridian,
Where the great plains begin.

Driving down a corduroy road,
Weeds standing shoulder high
Ferris wheel is rusting off in the distance
At the hundredth meridian
At the hundredth meridian
At the hundredth meridian
Where the great plains begin.

Left alone to get gigantic
Hard, huge and haunted
A generation so much dumber than it's parents came
Crashing through the window
A raven strains along the line of the road,
Carrying a muddy, old skull
The wires whistle their approval,
Off down the distance
At the hundredth meridian
At the hundredth meridian
At the hundredth meridian
Where the great plains begin
At the hundredth meridian.
At the hundredth meridian
Where the great plains begin

I remember, I remember Buffalo
And I remember Angelo
It would seem to me I remember every
Single fucking thing I know.

If I die of vanity, promise me, promise me,
They bury me some place I don't want to be,
You'll dig me up and transport me, unceremoniously,
Away from the swollen city-breeze, garbage bag trees,
Whispers of disease and the acts of enormity
And lower me slowly, sadly and properly
Get Ry Cooder to sing my eulogy,
At the hundredth meridian
At the hundredth meridian
At the hundredth meridian
Where the great plains begin.”

At the Hundredth Meridaian, the Tragically Hip band. Writers: Gord Downie, Robert Baker, Paul Langlois, Johnny Fay, Gordon Sinclair. 1992. 

"I've got a job, I explore, I follow every little whiff

And I want my life to smell like this
To find a place, ancient race, the kind you'd like to gamble with
Where they'd stamp on burning bags of shit

Lookin' for a place to happen, makin' stops along the way

Wayward, away we go, it's a shame to leave this masterpiece
With it's gallery gods and it's garbage-bag trees
So I'll paint a scene from memory, so I'd know who murdered me
It's a vain pursuit but it helps me sleep

Lookin' for a place to happen, makin' stops along the way
Lookin' for a place to happen, makin' stops along the way
Lookin' for a place to happen, makin' stops along the way

Jacques Cartier, right this way, I'll put your coat up on the bed
Hey man, you've got a real bum's eye for clothes
And come on in, sit right down, no you're not the first to show
We've all been here since, God, who knows

Lookin' for a place to happen, makin' stops along the way
Lookin' for a place to happen, makin' stops along the way

Jacques Cartier, right this way, I'll put your coat up on the bed
You've got a real bum's eye for clothes
Come on in, sit right down
We've all been here since, God, who knows."

Looking for a Place to Happen, by the Tragically Hip band. Writers: Gord Downie, Robert Baker, Paul Langlois, Johnny Fay, Gordon Sinclair, 1993

"Long Time Running is a Canadian documentary film, which premiered at the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival. Directed by Jennifer Baichwal and Nicholas de Pencier, the film profiles the Canadian rock band The Tragically Hip during their final tour in 2016, the Man Machine Poem Tour." The lead singer, Gord Downie, passed away from brain cancer at age 53 in October of 2017.


The two songs shared above by the Tragically Hip band where from the compilation album Fully Completely released in 2014.