South of the Blues

From Chuck's Musical Comedy:

"The Foursome"

On the "South of the Blues" Clip

From the TV Interview with Chuck posted on this site, Chuck can be quoted on his comment regarding lyrics from the Swing Era. He said, "The lyrics had something to say." Certainly, Chuck is saying something with his lyric to "South of the Blues."

Granted, we are specific to the class of song defined in my discussion related to Chuck's TV interview. There is so much I learned from my dad. One of the things he taught me about writing lyrics is that there needs to be no question as to what you are trying to say. Lyrics need to be clear, and they should read like a letter. He also said, as written in a song from "Where the Heck's the Plot?" that words ought to be "married to the music..." a description of the relationship between words and music in a song. This is some wisdom gleaned from a lifetime I spent around my dad.

"South of the Blues," the song, is like a given. There's little to not like about it. Chuck could take a song style and write within it. I witnessed him do this a lot, as he was chasing a market, or writing with an artist in mind. The Elvis that sang "Heartbreak Hotel" could have wailed "South of the Blues." "South of the Blues" fits in with the sort of things Elvis was doing like that. Perhaps that's why "South of the Blues" is so easy to like. Chuck, I, or the family have never discussed as much, that I'm aware of, but I know there is some validity to what I am saying.

Chuck wrote a big band arrangement of "South of the Blues" that was premiered by the South Eugene High School Stage Band at the Reno Jazz Festival in 1971. It was later recorded in the studio by Gene Atkin's, Lane Community College Stage Band. Later in 2001, and in 2010, "South of the Blues" resurfaced in Eugene's, ACE Caberet's production of Chuck's musical "The Foursome."

"South of the Blues" floats at the top of the best songs Chuck wrote with many others. That's just my opinion, and members of my family might disagree, but I think we take it for granted, a little bit, just what a good song South of the Blues is. I especially appreciate what a good lyric it is.

Soaring believes "South of the Blue's" popularity is still achievable.

(Parties interested in securing the rights and publications necessary to stage "The Foursome" are invited to contact Greg by clicking here. Soaring is committed to being as helpful as we can be. Thanks in advance for your interest in "The Foursome")

South of the Blues
(Lyrics)

South of the Blues
Lyric by Charles Nathan

You may be in debt
Way up to your ears
You worry and fret
Cry crocodile tears

You think you're feelln' blue
As blue as you can be
Until your baby breaks your heart
Then oh what misery
You're headed south man
Way down south of the blues

She tells you goodbye
She found someone new
How little she cares
What you're going through

Your lonely room becomes
Just like a prison cell
And when you're feelln' lower than
The bottom of a well
You're headed south, man
Way down south of the blues

You travel a road
A road that's dark and lonely
Where every one goes
Who's lost his one and only
Travelin' down
Travelln' down
South of the blues

You make up your mind
You're gonna' forget
But there goes the song
They played when you met

She won't be satisfied
She'll haunt you 'til the end
And even tho' you're feelln' low
It's just begun my friend
You're headed south man
Way down south of the blues

(All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized duplication is a violation of applicable laws.)

 


It's You  
From Chucks Musical Comedy :
"Where the Heck's the Plot?"

 

"On the "It's You" Clip

Where the Heck's the Plot?" is a bit like looking into two mirrors that face each other. There is an elusive quality about the work that defies one's ability to wrap your brain around it. However, as the musical unfolds there's no mistaking Sid and Jennie's romantic relationship, and the presentation of the song "It's You" supports this observation.

As you can see, Chuck has come forward with a nice-working lyric on "It's You," but from this "clip" you are not seeing all of it. There is a first-chorus lyric sung by Sidney, and then a third-chorus lyric, which is a duet.

Having acknowledged the good work contained within the journeyman lyric, what really impresses me about "It's You" is the music. Here's a show tune that swings, lending itself very nicely to jazz improvisation. Nice chords, good melody, good lyrical concept to justify the up tempo…

The song "It's You" was an exciting accomplishment for Chuck. He had great enthusiasm for this song, and was anxious to let people hear it.

As opposed to the Swing Era, in today's world we are more aware of the diversity in relationships that pair people together, but that's no reason for folks to skip swinging with one-another, is it? You have to applaud the examples being set here by a young couple having some good, clean fun.

Understandably, romantic scenes of the "It's-You-Clip variety" are, in a way, more powerful than the modern, relationship scenes that turn explicit, and bear all. For some, what we witness on the concerned clip is the ideal, but for others it is just too unattainable.

Life's challenges are so many, yet still, probably for the majority of people, establishing a romantic, loving relation with a significant other is the most important of all challenges to conquer. Our society is dependent on the continued success of the family, and families are built on love. Surely it is a valuable exercise to take a close look at developing love, while summoning up personal courage to get more comfortable with what we experience in its presence. The presentation of songs like "It's You," as captured on the concerned clip, can assist in the important task of encouraging strength, growth, and joy in the families of our society, as time "swings" insatiably on.

(Parties interested in securing the rights and publications necessary to stage the Heck's the Plot?" are invited to contact Greg by clicking here.  Soaring is committed to being as helpful as we can be. Thanks in advance for your interest in "Where the Heck's the Plot?")

It's You
(Lyrics)

It's You
Lyric by Charles Nathan.

(This is the middle chorus only...)

It's you, the moment I see you
I know I'm in love
It's true, the moment I'm near you
I coo like a dove

And when we're close together dancing
So cheek to cheek
My heart grows weak
Can't hardly speak

'Cause it's more than just a good feeling
When I'm in your arms
And more, you send my head reeling
You set off alarms

And if heaven sent someone to love
My whole life through
I wouldn't have to wait and wonder
Wouldn't have to wonder who
I'd know darn well
It's you.

(All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized duplication is a violation of applicable laws.)

 


 

"Our Lucky Day"
From Chuck's Musical Comedy:
"Where the Heck's the Plot?"