Springtime Blues

Also, I'm taking a short break.

Photo by Anya Chernik on Unsplash

Happy Blue Wednesday!

Welcome back, friends. Happy Easter to all of you as we continue to celebrate our risen Lord this time of year.

I’m so happy it’s Blue Wednesday again. I know it’s not true but sometimes it feels longer than one week between these posts. For those of you who may be new here, let me tell you how this typically works. On Blue Wednesday, I share a song or two of the blues genre and ask readers to return the favor by sharing their favorite blues-ish tunes with me in the comments or on the home page of Substack. Most songs are then added to the Blue Wednesday playlists on Spotify or YouTube.

We’ve been at this for five months now and it’s been such a fun way for me to talk about the music I love and learn about new songs from my friends here on Substack. If you’ve not joined in on the fun just yet, let today be your first day!

Last Week

Last week was all about the harmonica and I really enjoyed having a “theme” week ahead of time. What did y’all think? Please take part in this short poll below to let me know.

This Week

I had a plan to share a few songs I’ve been keeping in my back pocket for this week but they just didn’t feel right, so I decided to wait and just let some inspiration come my way. I was in the middle of some yard work over the weekend when I had the thought, “Man, I love this. Spring is just so alive. I’m always so happy when it warms up and we can enjoy spring!” That’s when I knew “spring” would be my personal theme for the songs I share this week.

First up is a song I’ve loved for half of my life now and could have easily been shared in the “My Blue Roots” series some time ago. My brother and I used to jam on this tune over and over again with our band and I come back to it at least once a year. So first up is a wonderful and uplifting song called, “Soulshine.”

Originally written by Warren Haynes, “Soulshine” was first recorded by Larry McCray in 1993. However, most people are familiar with versions by The Allman Brothers Band and Gov’t Mule. Either way, it’s a dose of encouragement we all need in these trying times. Take a gander at the first verse and lyrics below, then listen to the performance and try to tell me it doesn’t make you just a little happier.

When you can't find the light
That got you through a cloudy days
When the stars ain't shinin' bright
You feel like you've lost you're way
When those candle light of home
Burn so very far away
Well, you got to let your soul shine
Just like my daddy used to say

He used to say, "Soulshine
It's better than sunshine
It's better than moonshine
Damn sure better than rain
Hey, now people don't mind
We all feel this way sometime
You got to let your soul shine
Shine till the break of day"

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So when you’ve got the blues, make sure to let your soul shine. It will do you and those around you a world of good.

My second choice for this week will reveal just how much geography has influenced some of my taste in music. This song is southern to the core and, no matter where I am when I hear it, it makes me want to run back to the countryside and lose myself in the first patch of honeysuckle I can find. Some may already know where I’m going with this, but my second song with this is “Honeysuckle Blue” by Atlanta’s own Drivin’ N’ Cryin’.

It’s not crystal clear what the song is about or even what some of the lyrics are, but the song seems, to me, to be about a longing to introduce urban-locked souls to the peace and solitude of rural life. I’m not condemning anyone for living in a city, but I would encourage everyone to stretch their legs from time to time and find a place free of hustle and bustle. If you’ve ever felt like you’ve lost yourself in the ridiculous light-speed pace of city life, try to find yourself again by getting lost in a place where time and people move a little slower. Human speed is good. I can personally attest to the area about 45 minutes south of Atlanta being a great place for the slow pace.

A little break

Those are my songs for this week. I’m very excited to see what you’ve got to share or if the theme of “spring” means anything to you. If not, that’s just fine. I’d still love to know what you’re listening to. And if you’ve got any ideas for a themed week, shoot me a message and let me know.

As for me, my family will be on a week-long vacation starting next Wednesday, so I’m taking the next two weeks off of posting for Blue Wednesday. As much as I would love to schedule these posts to publish while I’m out, the fun of Blue Wednesday is the interaction we all have with each other after posting. So because I won’t be around to share music or keep the playlists up to date, I’ll just press pause here and be excited to jump back in come May 1.

Have fun and stay blessed!