Singer/Songwriter & Other Madness
by Dave Blackledge
“You And Your Stinkin’ Accordion”
Scene from the movie ‘Night Passage’ (1957). Story takes place during the days the railroads were being built across the country. Jimmy Stewart plays Grant McLain, a railroad worker who had previously been fired in disgrace for letting his payroll robbing brother (Audie Murphy) escape. After the railroad fired him, Grant McLain had to make a living playing his accordion on the streets for nickels and dimes (Apparently musicians were paid better back then). Grant McLain (Stewart) was re-hired by the railroad to carry the payroll so his brother’s gang wouldn’t get it. Grant McLain met with his brother and urged him to give up his life of crime. Grant (Jimmy Stewart) pulled his accordion out of the bag and played a song for his brother, the “Utica Kid” (Audie Murphy). It was their father’s favorite song and it hit Audie where it hurts, right in the heart. At the end of the movie as the gang had Jimmy Stewart pinned down and in big trouble, his brother switched sides and saved Jimmy...however, Audie got shot in the chest by his former gang partner. At the end of the movie Jimmy is holding Audie’s head up and Audie says.”that was Dad’s favorite song you played for me...you and your stinkin’ accordion.”
He was on the side of good for 3 minutes and he got killed, what does that say? This is the only sad accordion story I know. Most accordion stories involve polkas and alcohol, which are usually pretty funny. I’ll get back to this point.)
At Meiserville Inn a couple weeks ago The Mayor looked at me and said “Dave, what was with your article last month? It was so..it was so..well, depressing.” Guitar Chuck M agreed with the mayor and added, “it was a little boring.” Freakin critics everywhere. But, unfortunately for me, they were right. As I wrote the article in question I thought it was a little out of character for me, but it was in line with my feelings at the time. It just didn’t make a good story, so I apologize for that. Even comedy writers suffer from melancholia from time to time,well, mostly daily. For those of you who read Singer Songwriters and Other Madness regularly it was the article about Warren Zevon’s advice to “enjoy every sandwich.” I still like the thought but it didn’t fit in one of my articles. However, I do think that things can be depressing and funny. It’s how you look at things and also how the story is told. For evidence of my point that some things can be depressing and funny I offer you the following proof. George Bush, Bill O’Reilly, Government subsidies to Exxon/Mobil to research alternative fuels, Rush Limbaugh.
Raise your hand if you’ve had the flu bug that’s going around. Now look around. Is anyone looking funny at you wondering why you are reading a magazine and holding one hand in the air? Ok, I was just being silly there. You can put your hand down. If you did have this flu, you might not be strong enough yet to hold it up there long anyway.
It’s all about the story. I find that’s how I feel about most of life. I usually think, this might be painful, this might not be fun, this will be a lot of work but, will I get a good story out of it? Sometimes reliving the event in story is better than the actual event. This is especially true if you have that songwriter imagination. Your songs should have a great story in them too. It doesn’t matter whether you have the story in mind and write a song from it, or have a story idea and create the story. Just paint the picture so the listener’s mind can become part of the scene. The lyrics don’t have to be deep in meaning. They can be silly, just for dance, but make people see and feel that dance. Oops, I sound like I’m giving lessons and I never want to tell a songwriter how to write.
Well, Spring is here. It’s a great time to get out to the local clubs and catch a band or acoustic act. Or, go to some open mics to play or just listen. You can have some great times just hanging out with some friends playing music. This is especially true at open mics where you have some songwriters. There are always some interesting stories when songwriters get together, some of them real.
Ok, so I have a project for you if you’d like.The title of this article could make a great song. Why don’t you write one based on that idea? But, I wouldn’t make it a polka. Come to think of it, why not make it a polka? Think of the stories you can get by playing that song in polka country.
Keep writing. Don’t give it up if you feel songs inside you. See ya around the salt mines. Dave www.daveblackledge.com Rest in Peace Gracie.
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