Worried Man Blues -

Melodic and rhythmic variations to match changing verse syllables.

Description

Grade: Fourth
Origin: USA – Traditional Folk Song
Key: F Major
Time: 4/4
Form: ABAC
Rhythm: intermediate: | ta/ ti ta ta | syncopation,
| ta/a/a ta | ta/a/a ti ti | ta/a/a/a | – rhythm changes with each verse
Pitches: beginners: So La Ti Do Re Mi
Intervals: beginners: La/Do (m3), Do\La (m3)
Musical Elements: notes: whole, dotted half, half, dotted quarter, quarter, eighth; pickup beat, syncopation, tied notes, melodic and rhythmic variations to match verse syllables
Key Words: USA – history, prisoner’s song, worry, worried man, across, river, laid, sleep, twenty-one links, chain, around, judge, fine, asked, Rocky Mountain Line, Rocky Mountain Railroad, should, ask, anyone, composed, song, blues, shackles, woke up, chain link, chain, initials, day; contractions: won’t (will not), what’s (what is)

**“Worried Man Blues”**

		Refrain
		It takes a worried man to sing a worried song. It takes a worried man to sing a worried song. It takes a worried man to sing a worried song. I’m worried now, but I won’t be worried long.
	1.	I went across the river and I laid down to sleep. I went across the river and I laid down to sleep. I went across the river and I laid down to sleep. When I woke up, there were shackles on my feet.
		Refrain
	2.	Twenty one links of chain around my leg. Twenty one links of chain around my leg. Twenty one links of chain around my leg. And on each link, the initials of my name.
		Refrain
	3.	I asked the judge what’s gonna be my fine. I asked the judge what’s gonna be my fine. I asked the judge what’s gonna be my fine. Twenty-one years on the Rocky Mountain Line.
		Refrain
	4.	If anyone should ask you who composed this song. If anyone should ask you who composed this song. If anyone should ask you who composed this song. Say it was me and I sing it all day long.
		Refrain

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