I’m a full grown man/
No B, O child, Y.

You haven’t heard an audience respond to a song until you’ve heard “Mannish Boy” by Muddy Waters. The crowd is amazing. It is like Muddy Waters is saying something that is so essential to their being that they are screaming out like they’re in church.

What is Muddy Waters saying? Well, he is a man and he has lots of fun. And all you ladies over there standing in line…I can hook up with every single one of you in 5 minutes. (I feel like I should end everything Muddy says with an explanation point.)

He is a man.

And the sound quality! How is it that we can get that sound quality from “Mannish Boy” from 70 years ago, but still get crappy live recordings today?  Incredible. I am grateful for it though.

This is “good-times” blues. Compare this to Jackson Frank’s blues. When I think of blues, I usually think of something closer to the depressing blue like Franks, but Mannish Boy is a marvel. The lyrics feel improvised, but they aren’t. If there is one concert I wish I could have been at, this might be it.

Lyrics Mannish Boy

Ooh, yeah, ooh, yeah

Everythin’, everythin’, everytin’s gonna be alright this mornin’
Ooh yeah, whoa
Now when I was a young boy, at the age of five
My mother said I was, gonna be the greatest man alive
But now I’m a man, way past 21
Want you to believe me baby,
I had lot’s of fun
I’m a man
I spell mm, a child, n
That represents man
No be, O child, Y1
That mean mannish boy
I’m a man
I’m a full grown man
I’m a man
I’m a natural born lovers man
I’m a man
I’m a rollin’ stone
I’m a man
I’m a hoochie coochie man

Sittin’ on the outside, just me and my mate
You know I’m made to move you honey,
Come up two hours late
Wasn’t that a man
I spell mm, a child, n
That represents man
No be, O child, Y1
That mean mannish boy
I’m a man
I’m a full grown man
Man
I’m a natural born lovers man
Man
I’m a rolllin’ stone
Man-child
I’m a hoochie coochie man

The line I shoot will never miss
When I make love to a woman,
She can’t resist
I think I go down,
To old Kansas Stew
I’m gonna bring back my second cousin,
That little Johnny Cocheroo
All you little girls,
Sittin’ out at that line
I can make love to you woman,
In five minutes time
Ain’t that a man
I spell mm, a child, n
That represents man
No be, o’ child, Y1
That mean mannish boy
Man
I’m a full grown man
Man
I’m a natural born lovers man
Man
I’m a rollin’ stone
I’m a man-child
I’m a hoochie coochie man
Well, well, well, well
Hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry
Don’t hurt me, don’t hurt me child
Don’t hurt me, don’t hurt, don’t hurt me child
Well, well, well, well
Yeah

written by Ellas Mcdaniel / Melvin London / Mckinley Morganfield

Give the heavens above more than just a passing glance/
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance…I hope you dance.

Lee Ann Womack’s “I Hope You Dance” is one of the best cross-over hits. There are very few songs that can appeal to a country audience and a non-country audience. It was written by a team that mostly writes country music, and Womack is a country music artist, but the song has a soft rock feel to it as well.

The message is great—it is one we could all do better to remember. When given an opportunity, take a chance and say “yes”. Supposedly, at the end of your life you have more regrets about the things you didn’t do than the things you did do.  It seems like Womack’s advice is good even if you take it in the most literal sense. Just dance! No one is watching.

The chorus of “I Hope You Dance” is really catchy. I especially like when the background singers sing completely different sentences than the lead. You don’t hear that in many songs, but it is used to great effect here. While the song is great, I think it is ripe for a cover. I would love to hear a less-country version of this song. Just piano or acoustic guitar and a less intense lead vocal, and I think someone could have another hit on their hands.

I Hope You Dance Lyrics

I hope you never lose your sense of wonder
You get your fill to eat but always keep that hunger
May you never take one single breath for granted
God forbid love ever leave you empty handed
I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean
Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens
Promise me that you’ll give faith a fighting chance
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance

I hope you dance
I hope you dance

I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance
Never settle for the path of least resistance
Livin’ might mean takin’ chances, but they’re worth takin’
Lovin’ might be a mistake, but it’s worth makin’
Don’t let some Hellbent heart leave you bitter
When you come close to sellin’ out, reconsider
Give the heavens above more than just a passing glance
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance

I hope you dance (Time is a wheel in constant motion always rolling us along)
I hope you dance

I hope you dance (Tell me who wants to look back on their years and wonder)
I hope you dance (Where those years have gone?)

I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean
Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens
Promise me that you’ll give faith a fighting chance
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
Dance
I hope you dance
I hope you dance (Time is a wheel in constant motion always rolling us along)
I hope you dance (Tell me who wants to look back on their years and wonder?)

written by Tia Sillers / Mark Sanders

You better learn it fast; you better learn it young,
‘Cause, “Someday” Never Comes.”

Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Someday Never Comes” has a bit of a Carpe Diem theme. For example, “do something today, because if you keep saying you will do something ‘someday’ it will never happen”. There is also a bit of bitterness in the title—a literal interpretation. As in, someday never comes—you’ll never understand why such and such happened when you were younger even though you are told as a kid “don’t worry, some day you’ll understand.” Someday never comes.

Creedence has a very signature sound. Their sound is not so much unique, but it is so recognizably theirs. It is not just Fogerty’s vocals–the sound of their guitars and instruments seem to blend to create a somewhat “riverboat” or “woodsy” or country-ish sound. (I am not sure why I use these words to describe it). This sound pervades all their music and we can hear it in “Someday Never Comes” as well.

Their sound lends itself well to songs about protests and songs that give life lessons. They sound like they’ve lived and they have advice to share.

Lyrics Someday Never Comes

First thing I remember
Was asking Papa, “Why?”
For there were many things I didn’t know
And Daddy always smiled
Took me by the hand
Saying, “Someday you’ll understand”

Well, I’m here to tell you now each and every mother’s son
You better learn it fast, you better learn it young
‘Cause someday never comes

The time and tears went by
And I collected dust
For there were many things I didn’t know
When Daddy went away
He said, “Try to be a man
And someday you’ll understand”

But I’m here to tell you now each and every mother’s son
You better learn it fast, you better learn it young
‘Cause someday never comes

And then one day in April
I wasn’t even there
For there were many things I didn’t know
A son was born to me
Mama held his hand
Saying, “Someday you’ll understand”

Well, I’m here to tell you now each and every mother’s son
You better learn it fast, you better learn it young
‘Cause someday never comes
Ooh, someday never comes

Think it was September
The year I went away
For there were many things I didn’t know
And I still see him standin’
Tryin’ to be a man
I said, “Someday you’ll understand”

But I’m here to tell you now each and every mother’s son
You better learn it fast, you better learn it young
‘Cause someday never comes
Ooh, someday never comes

written by Fogerty