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TIMELINE
Listening Guide: Bessie Smith "Lost Your Head Blues"
| "Lost Your Head Blues "Recorded and performed by Bessie Smith, 1926 | ||
|---|---|---|
| A | Four-bar introduction: Piano punching out chords and trumpet playing melodic theme that Smith will use to dominate the entire work. Pay attention to how Smith uses and manipulates this, especially in Stanza 5. | [00:00-00:10] 00:10 |
| B | Stanza 1, Line 1 (A): I was with you baby when you did not have a dime. Chords I (Call) | [00:11-00:17] 00:07 |
| C | Trumpet: Chords I (Response) | [00:17-00:21] 00:05 |
| D | Line 2 (A): I was with you baby when you did not have a dime. Chords IV (Call) | [00:22-00:28] 00:07 |
| E | Trumpet: Chords I (Response) | [00:29-00:31] 00:03 |
| F | Line 3 (B): Now since you got plenty money you have throw'd your good gal down. Chords V (Call) | [00:32-00-39] 00:08 |
| G | Trumpet: Chords I (Response) | [00:40-00-43] 00:03 |
| H | Stanza 2, Line 1 (A): Once ain't for always, two ain't for twice. Chords I (Call) | [00:44-00:49] 00:06 |
| I | Trumpet: Chords I (Response) | [00:50-00:53] 00:03 |
| J | Line 2 (A): Once ain't for always, two ain't for twice. Chords IV (Call) | [00:54-01:00] 00:07 |
| K | Trumpet: Chords I (Response) | [01:00-1:04] 00:04 |
| L | Line 3 (B): When you get a good gal, you better treat her nice. Chords V (Call) | [01:-05-01-10] 00:06 |
| M | Trumpet: Chords I (Response); (Response) | [01:11-01-15] 00:05 |
| N | Stanza 3, Line 1 (A): When you were lonesome, I tried to treat you kind. Chords I (Call) | [01:16-01:21] 00:06 |
| O | Trumpet: Chords I (Response) | [01:22-01:26] 00:05 |
| P | Line 2 (A): When you were lonesome, I tried to treat you kind. Chords IV (Call) | [01:27-01:32] 00:06 |
| Q | Trumpet: Chords I (Response) | [01:33-1:36] 00:04 |
| R | Line 3 (B): But since you've got money, it's done changed your mind. Chords V (Call) | [01:37-01-43] 00:07 |
| S | Trumpet: Chords I (Response) | [01:44-01-47] 00:04 |
| T | Stanza 4, Line 1 (A): I'm going to leave baby, ain't gonna say goodbye. Chords I (Call) | [01:48-01:54] 00:07 |
| U | Trumpet: Chords I (Response) | [01:55-01:58] 00:04 |
| V | Line 2 (A): I'm going to leave baby, ain't gonna say goodbye. Chords IV (Call) | [01:59-02:03] 00:05 |
| W | Trumpet: Chords I (Response) | [02:04-2:08] 00:05 |
| X | Line 3 (B): But, I'll write you and tell you the reason why. Chords V (Call) | [02:09-02-15] 00:07 |
| Y | Trumpet: Chords I (Response); (Response) | [02:16-02-18] 00:03 |
| Z | Stanza 5, Line 1 (A) + Trumpet: Days are lonesome, nights are long. Chords I (Call) with the overlapped response of the trumpet | [02:19-02:30] 00:12 |
| AA | Line 2 (A) + Trumpet response: Days are lonesome, nights are long. Chords I (Call) with the overlapped response of the trumpet | [02:31-02:40] 00:10 |
| BB | Line 3 (B) + Trumpet response: I'm a good gal, but I've just been treated wrong. Chords V (Call) with the overlapped response of the trumpet) | [02:41-02:53] 00:13 |