An Introduction to America’s Music

272 PART 3 | FROM WORLD WAR I THROUGH WORLD WAR II

songwriter: Jimmie Rodgers

date: Recorded in Los Angeles, 1930

performer: Jimmie Rodgers, vocal and

guitar

genre: country music

meter: duple

form: strophic blues

timing section text comments

0:00 introduction 8 bars (plus pickup notes), using a

chord progression characteristic of

ragtime.

0:11 chorus 1 “Good morning, Captain.” “Good

morning, Shine”

“Do you need another muleskinner

out on your new mud line?”

Opening melodic phrase includes a

prominent blue note. The two lines

of text fi ll two phrases of the blues

chorus; the third phrase (0:26) is

yodeling.

0:34 chorus 2 I like to work, I’m rolling all the time

I can carve my initials on a mule’s

behind

Like chorus 1, but with more-elaborate

yodeling in third phrase.

0:56 chorus 3 Hey little water boy, bring that water

round

If you don’t like your job, set that

water bucket down

3-phrase blues chorus extended to

create 4 phrases: harmony of phrase

2 repeats with yodeling; fi nal phrase

continues yodeling.

1:25 chorus 4 Working on the good roads, a dollar

and a half a day

My good gal’s waiting on a Saturday

night, just to draw my pay

2-phrase blues chorus: instead of

yodeling, proceeds directly into guitar

interlude.

1:39 interlude 16-bar guitar solo begins with a

single-line melody on the upper

strings and ends in bass register,

with the ragtime harmonies of the

introduction.

2:01 chorus 5 “I’m going to town, Honey, what you

want me to bring you back?”

“Bring a pint of booze and a John B.

Stetson hat.”

5-phrase blues chorus: phrases 1–2

with lyrics; phrase 3 with spoken

“Bring it to me, Honey”; phrases 4–5

like phrases 3–4 of chorus 3.

WHAT TO LISTEN FOR

• combination of blues choruses and yodeling


• simplifi ed version of Carter-style guitar
  playing


• ragtime-infl uenced harmonies in
  instrumental introduction and interlude

CD 2.7 Listening Guide 11.3 “Blue Yodel no. 8 (Muleskinner Blues)” JIMMIE RODGERS

172028_11_254-279_r3_ko.indd 272 23/01/13 8:42 PM