Blues Project



The Blues in Fences: Lyric AssignmentThe Blues were one of the key influences in August Wilson’s writing of the play, Fences. He incorporates the Blues through the emotional context of the characters, as well as through the play’s four songs.The Blues first started as part of the African American oral tradition (passed on by word of mouth) that evolved from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, and folk songs. The lyrics were first used to tell stories about hardships in the workplace or at home. Early blues started out as a call and response format to help pass the time while at work. The leader would sing the call (A), the group would respond by repeating the call (A), and then the leader would sing a 3rd line that either resolved or expanded upon the idea presented in the first two lines (B).Blues singers and instrumentalists started to perform together in the early 1900s. The call and response format turned into a structured three-part lyrical form. The first two lines of blues lyrics were alike (A1, A1), and the third was different but rhymed with the first and second line (A2). Here’s an example from a blues song by B.B. King, “Everyday I Have the Blues”:A1 Everyday, everyday I have the bluesA1Everyday, everyday I have the bluesA2When you see me worried, baby, it’s you I hate to lose.The Blues are often about intensely persona subjects such as pain of betrayal, desertion, and unrequited love or with unhappy situations such as being jobless, hungry, broke, away from home, lonely, or downhearted because of an unfaithful lover. Oppression and alienation are also common subjects, along with the search for identity, and issues, incidents, and struggles important to the Black community.Practice Lyric and sample:Complete the following blues lyric by writing a third line that is about the same length as the first two. Have the last word of the third line rhyme with the last word of the first two lines, “do.”A1 I feel so sad and lonely, don’t know what I’m gonna do.A1 I feel so sad and lonely, don’t know what I’m gonna do.A2 ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________English Teacher Blues – (an online sample, slightly edited)A1 I've got the Blues, the English teacher blues,A1 I've got the Blues, the English teacher blues,A2 My kids won't write their essays; I don't know what to do.B1 The boys all hate outlines, the girls don't like to write a draft,B1 The boys all hate outlines, the girls don't like to write a draft,B2 I ask myself, can I teach them anything about this craft?C1 I tried to teach them the basics; “This is boring,” they all sayC1 I tried to teach them the basics; “This is boring,” they all sayC2 It makes me wonder, will they stop whining for a day? D1 I finally thought of a project, that really seemed to fit,D1 I finally thought of a project, that really seemed to fit,D2 Write a blues song, and put your problems into it.Fences Blues Lyrics AssignmentSelect one of the major characters from the play, Fences, and write a Blues song that character would sing. You may choose to write a song for Troy, Cory, Rose, Lyons, or Gabriel. Write four verses of a 3- line blues lyric. (A1A1A2, B1B1B2, C1C1C2, D1D1D2).Each line should contain 2 phrases.I feel so sad and lonely - phrase 1don’t know what I’m gonna do – phrase 2The words of the first two lines should be the same (A1)The third line should be different from the first two lines (A2). However, it should end with a word that rhymes with the last word of the first two lines.Each verse should have a different first and last line than the verse before it.All of the verses put together should tell a story about something upsetting your character. Make sure you include details from the play about your character. Don’t make up a story, use the text.Your song lyrics must have a fitting title (Blues Lyrics or Fences Assignment don’t work).Type your lyrics so they look like the sample above (with a space between each verse).Do not use the sample lyrics from above in your song.Your lyrics are due on: ________________________________________________ ................
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