Tuesday, February 8, 2022

So Full and Soulful

The story of Sonny & Brownie

Foundations of the blues

The bedrock of a feeling

Tugging at your walking shoes


Their sound was so full and soulful

They belted blues they knew first-hand

They played together for almost forty years

As they traveled ‘cross the land


Brownie McGhee played rhythm guitar

Though polio made his leg lame

He keeps in step while strumming

But howls blues outside the frame


Sonny Terry blows the harmonica

Blind since he was a teen

He made colors with his notes

Through the music he could see


The harmonica comes through

Like the whistle on a train

The rhythm guitar makes my leg bounce 

During each refrain


On the way up to the microphone

Brownie would limp onto the stage

Leading Sonny by the hand

Then they’d both fly free from their cage


If you’ve never heard of these two bluesmen

Take some time to seek their sounds

Then close your eyes and tap your toes

Feel the rhythm as your heart pounds


By Royce Waxenfelter

2/8/22

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