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Blues Lyrics - Michael Hill
Why We Play The Blues

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by
Michael Hill
recording of 1994, New York
from
Bloodlines (Alligator ALCD 4821)
Times are really tough, there's trouble all around,
the cost of keeping up is steady wearing people down
Folks need something for their spirit to help them make it through
Well, this music is a healer and that s why we play the blues, why we play the blues
Millionaires will tell you: the economy's fine
That doesn't help the people on the unemployment line
You got too many families who need housing, jobs, and food
So we try to tell the story and that's why we play the blues, why we play the blues
(spoken: Huh! Kick it now!)
We know that life is sweeter when you got a fine romance,
but so much stuff is out here, folks are scared to take a chance
So many hearts are lonely, so many hearts confused
Well this music s good for loving, now, and that s why we play the blues,
why we play the blues
(spoken: One more)
Young people face the dangers and pressures of the street
and even in the classrooms children packing heat
We've got to show the wisdom and the strength that s in our roots, yes we do
Well, this music is a bloodline and that s why we play the blues, why we play the blues
(spoken: ... the keyboards, say it now)
Hey, now, we played a lot of places from the East out to the West,
we take it to the stage and put this music to the test
No matter where they come from, people understand the truth
Everybody knows the feeling and that s why we play the blues
Why we play the blues, y'all, why we play the blues
I got to, got to, got to, we got to, got to play the blues, play the blues now


Here is the table of contents.
A.C. Reed
Albert Collins
Albert King
Alvin Youngblood Hart
Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup
B.B. King
Bessie Smith
Big Bill Broonzy
Big Joe Turner
Big Maceo Merriweather
Big Walter Horton
Blind Arthur Blake
Blind Boy Fuller
Blind Joe Reynolds
Blind Lemon Jefferson
Blind Willie Johnson
Blind Willie McTell
Bo Carter
Bo Diddley
Bob Margolin
Bobby "Blue" Bland
Buddy Guy
Bukka White
Charley Patton
Charly Musselwhite
Chris Duarte
Clara Smith
Elmore James
Freddie King
Gary Moore
George Thorogood
Hans Theessink
Hot Tuna
Howlin' Wolf
Ida Cox
If You Don't Want Me
Janis Joplin
Jimmy Dawkins
Jimmy Reed
Jimmy Rogers
Jimmy Witherspoon
John Lee Hooker
John Mayall's Bluesbreakers
John Mooney
Johnny Winter
Jonny Lang
Junior Parker
Junior Wells
Keb' Mo'
Kenny Wayne Shepherd
King Solomon Hill
Leadbelly
Lightnin' Hopkins
Lil Johnson
Lil' Son Jackson
Little Walter
Lonnie Johnson
Louis Jordan
Louisiana Red
Lucille Bogan
Luther Allison
Ma Rainey
Magic Sam
Mance Lipscomb
Memphis Minnie
Memphis Slim
Michael Hill
Mississippi Fred McDowell
Mississippi John Hurt
Mississippi Sheiks
Muddy Waters
Omar and The Howlers
Otis Rush
Paul Butterfield (removed)
R.L. Burnside
Rev. Gary Davis
Robben Ford
Robert Johnson
Robert Wilkins
Rory Gallagher
Sampson Pittman
Skip James
Slim Harpo
Son House
Sonny Boy Williamson I
Sonny Boy Williamson II
Sonny Terry/Brownie McGhee
Stevie Ray Vaughan
Susan Tedeschi
Tab Benoit
Taj Mahal
T-Bone Walker
The Fabulous Thunderbirds
The Jeff Healey Band
Tommy Johnson
Willie Dixon
ZZ Top
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