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