True Blues

True Blues

ain't no new news

'bout who's been abused

for the blues is as old

as my stolen soul.

I sang the blues when the missionaries came

passing out Bibles in Jesus' name.

I sang the blue in hull of the ship

beneath the sting of the slavemaster's whip.

I sang the blues when the ship anchored

the dock

my family being sold on a slave block.

I sang the blues being torn from my first born

and hung my head and cried

when my wife took his life

and then committed suicide.

I sang the blues on the slavemaster's

plantation

helping him build his tree nation.

I sang the blues in the cotton field

hustlin' to make the daily yield.

I sang the blues when he forced my woman

to bed.

Lord Knows I wish he was dead

I sang the blues on the run

ducking the dogs and dodging the gun.

I sang the blues hangin' from the tree

in a desperate attempt to break free.

I sang the blue from sun up to down

cursing the master when he wasn't around.

I sang the blues in all his wars

dying for someone uknown cause.

I sang the blues in the high tone, low moan,

load groan, soft grunt, hard funk!

I sang the blues on land, sea and air

about who, when, why and where.

I sang the blues in church on Sunday.

slavin' on Monday

misused on Tuesday.

abused on Wednesday.

accused on Thursday.

fried alive on Friday

and died on Saturday.

Sho'nuff singin the blues.

I sang the blues in the summer, fall, winter

and spring.

I know sho'nuff the blues is my thing.

I sang the backwater blues.

Rhythm and blues.

Gospel blues.

St. Louis blues

Crosstown blues.

Chicago blues.

Mississipi Goddam blues.

The Watts blues.

Harlem blues.

Hough blues.

Gutbucket blues.

Funky junkie blues.

I sang the up north cigarette cough blues.

The down south strung out the side of my

mouth blues.

I sang the blues black.

I sang the blues blacker.

I sang the blues blackest.

I sang about my sho'nuff blue blackeness..