Ol' Melvin

2001 Portland, Oregon

Blues in A

A
Ol' Melvin born in Memphis back in 1922
He grew up in the South, he grew up with the blues
D
Ol' Melvin went to Europe back in 1944
A
He went to kick the Nazi's off that Frenchie soil
E
He charged on up that Utah Beach in 1945
D
Then four weeks down in Paris town singin' his jive

A...

Ol' Melvin's makin' whoopee, Ol Melvin's singing songs
Ol' Melvin's likin' Paris, just seems they get along
Ol' Melvin gets his orders seems his playin' days are through
Ol' Melvin tells ol' Paris, 'You can't forget my brew'
That brew was funky wicked; that brew was funky strong
Those pretty Frenchie phillies kept on singin' his song
They went…

(Blues Jam)

Ol' Melvin back in Memphis up in 1974
Married Phyllis Baker and they owned a grocery store
They sold the people carrots and they sold them lemon & lime
They sold 'em so much groceries makin' money all the time
So Phyllis says to Melvin, 'Hon I'm getting' kinda bored
It's time we take a boat to that European shore'

Melvin's back in Paris he's got Phyllis by his side
He's walkin' down the streets where he used to play his jive
Phyllis sees a club where they playin' rhythm & blues
She yanks on Melvin's shirt says 'Get out your dancin' shoes'
Then Melvin sees a face he ain't seen for thiry year
She says 'Welcome home, Melvin - it's your fils Pierre'

Now Melvin's been a black man back since 1922
But he'd never seen a man who could play that kind of blues
His face had gone wicked and his face had gone white
Phyllis didn't recognize who's standin' by her side
Pierre looked at his mommy and he looked at Melvin too
He handed him his guitar he said, 'Joue ton poutain blues!'
Il dissait…

(Wicked Bluez Jam)

Come New Year's Day in Memphis was two million & one
Pierre shows up from Paris he was bringin' his grandson
Phyllis hugged the two of them said' Melvin's on the porch
Pierre was lookin' proud he was passin' a torch
Ol' Melvin left his rocker and he walked up to the door
Pierre said, regard poppa young Melvin's on your shore.
And they went…

(Once through to finish)