A song for 12 Bar

[Strummer07]

A few short weeks ago we (the whole forum) were greatly saddened to hear of 12 bars sudden and very painful loss.
Many lovely things were written for him on a thread .....We are all sons (and daughters) and the loss of a parent is totally shattering.

Some time after this event ...............I got a thought about this being a Blues Forum ......and I really felt that something ought to be expressed musically.

Unfortunately, at that stage I was more than a bit stumped ........as I'd never created a Blues song before, from scratch......However , we have super folk on here who can ... and who could help.

So, with an Idea in mind and a few scribbled headlines for verses ...I contacted a couple of folk via pm .....and before you knew it we had written and created a new Blues song ......there is whole back story to this .....and the journey we went on and how additional folk came in to help create something special.....which may emerge over time ..........but the purpose of this post is not to wax lyrical about the practicalities of it all but to :-

Offer this song to Gerd.
and to acknowledge my trusty cohorts ....without whom this would have just remained ... a nice thought...............my sincere thanks fella's

So , from Viking Blues, Blackhorse, HalfBlindLefty and Blindboy ......

On behalf of us all ...........I'd like you to have this song as our gift to you, Gerd ...with our fond thoughts.
............... ( Warning:- it is quite a long song .but things needed to be said )

" A Blues for a Mother" .......................Enjoy !

download/file.php?id=948

Strummer

[MikeJackal]

That really is a great piece, very well thought out and conveys the sentiments perfectly. Fortunately for me I have yet to experience the pain of losing a parent so I cannot fully comprehend the pain that it will cause. But even though I haven't I can still relate to it because of the way you have all beautifully portrayed it in this song.
Each part is as you would expect, an individual piece with varying style, but they all piece together and fit so well.
I know If this were a gift to me I would be immensely proud to receive it, as I'm sure Gerd will be too.
Bravo everyone, first class.

P.S. You might want to place the song with the in-line player, perhaps you just forgot to do that. And also I would love to see the lyrics along side it.

[DeaconBlues]

Very FWMc/Greenie.

Very well done.

[Golfxzq]

Wonderful job to you all... very well done. A fitting tribute....

[12bar]

THANK YOU!

I'm overwhelmed, speechless, honored - can't find the right words for it.

A fantastic piece of music, even if it was made for a sad reason (as often). I'm somewhere between and ( and for it's reason)

Great interplay, great vocals (I'm trying to get the lyrics out of it), great tone - again: thank you!!!

[ElMano]

Very sensitive and played whit the right feel and most of all for the right reasons. Gerd, deserved it for more then one reason Keep this forum at this quality, connect us blues guys over the world, and chair his sadness and joy with use. I hope gerd this will be a help to find a place fore your lost Just leke a lot off us had to do in the past years. Beatyfull work, you bluesman, and it will be there for a lot of mothers in think.

[MojoJim]

A wonderful piece of music. Rich in content and emotion. Deeply and honestly felt in delivery. The team's oneness of spirit and purpose is evident in the blending. And I believe it conveys the sympathy, honor and respect that our whole community feels towards Gerd.

[VikingBlues]

I'm very happy to have been involved in this project - when Strummer first suggested it I felt quite panicky whether it could be done with the appropriate quality to meet and live up to it's serious purpose. I'm glad to see that we have managed to make a decent fist of it and give Gerd something meaningful from us - we have been given so much by Gerd - a wonderful site in 12bar.de with a quality of friendship and comradeship that he inspires in the members here.

I know Strummer has been very busy today - we'll get something posted on the lyrics soon Gerd. Strummer was the organising genius and the man who had the idea - Blackhorse was our (high quality) sound engineer, and the originator of the melody and vocal style of the song. I just chucked some words in, plus a few ideas, and did a bit of singing and playing, so I'll take a bit of a backseat with any story of the project. But I will say I have found working with Strummer and Blackhorse a very rewarding experience - I just wish there had been a different and happy reason for our getting together.

You'll have noticed how we were able to rely on the assistance of our key experts, HBL and Blindboy, to tie everything neatly together with such beautiful opening and closing guitar statements.

[2WheelsOfBlues]

Viking Blues, Blackhorse, HalfBlindLefty and Blindboy,

Its a great song thats for sure, i loved it from the first sec.


Its like a big family

As we can see and hear now, it s a small word after all..........

[Strummer07]

Gerd.........really pleased you like the song ..

Please don't sweat on the vocals .. pleased to post them ....and to attribute them.

A Blues for a Mother
Verse 1:
You were there for me / When my first cries were heard
You were there for me / when my frightened cries were heard
You kept me warm, sang like a bird...... knew what I needed , ... with no need of a word.

Verse 2:
You were there to teach me , How to cope ......with all life's pain
You were there to teach me, How to live ......with all life's pain
You shared my laughter, felt my pain, and when I fell / you helped me up again.

Verse 3:
Your support and Love, it kept Warm. It kept me warm, and it kept me from harm
Your support and love, it kept warm. It kept me warm.... and it kept me from harm
All Through the good times , and all through the bad. I was always your Son, Your Son ...and your charm

Verse 4:
I'll never forget , that you gave me life. ......and you helped me .....Helped me to Be
I'll never forget, that you gave me life...... and you helped me ......Helped me to Be
I take great joy..... from your memory, ....and you'll always be .....Mother to me ......

Written by :- Patterson/ Bond /Valentine c. 2011


Thanks also to MikeJackal /Deacon Blues /Golfxzq/ El Mano and MojoJim for such supportive and positive comments ..
the Comment from DeaconB ." Very FWMc/Greenie."......Wow!! .speechless !

For those who like a few details as to......... who did what and with what

Backing track :- “Backing Track in Am” from Guitar Backing tracks
Melody :- Blackhorse
Mixing and effects:- Blackhorse
Recorded:- Netherlands / England / Scotland / Ireland and USA
Mixed in Ireland 2011

Players :- In order of ‘Appearance’ :-

1st 12 bars introduction - HalfBlindLefty -Holland -.US Fender Stratocaster "Special"
1st verse Vocal and Fills:- Blackhorse - Ireland - Fender Stratocaster
2nd Verse - Vocals and fills Viking Blues – Scotland - Vintage SA590
1st Solo 12 bars .. Questions and Answers ,
Questions:- Strummer07 -England – US Fender Stratocaster
Answers :- Viking Blues – Scotland - Hagstrom Viking Deluxe
3rd Verse – Vocals and fills Strummer07- England – US Fender Stratocaster
2nd Solo – Blackhorse-Ireland - Fender Stratocaster
4th Verse – Vocals Strummer 07 and Blackhorse (Call and Response) Fills Blackhorse
Outro Solo 12 bars - Blindboy - New Mexico - The Casino !!


Almost right from the getgo this was a real joint effort project, So this was pretty much always 'our' song and 'our project ......So, I would really encourage my "partners in Crime" to add anything that they feel is key to the project, reasons for doing it, their reasons for signing up etc. ... Anything really !

Let me just take a comment from El Mano " and reiterate it ....... " Gerd deserved this".....That is exactly what we felt.!

[12bar]

I'm still in awe for this wonderful piece of Blues. Thanks for the lyrics, that's what the guitars say to me, too.
It fits all so well together, you've done a fantastic job.
Blues - the healer!

[VikingBlues]

Thanks for the lyrics, that's what the guitars say to me, too.

I'm very pleased that they did - we were keen that the guitar parts should be an extension of the song and of its message. Thank you.

Strangely the words were one of the simpler parts of the exercise - pretty well completed on day 3 from Strummer first contacting me with his idea. And it was less than a week from the time the extended backing track was in place and the melody was agreed to recording all our guitar and vocal parts and posting the song here. It was the bit in the middle took time - two weeks to search for and narrow down the choice of backing tracks and to each do a couple of demos and to choose which BT and vocal to go with. It's just as well our organiser, Strummer had a strong grip on the tiller.

On the subject of the guitars did anyone notice in Strummers "Players List" two posts back how it was just Blindboy and Viking stopped this song from being a Fender Strat whitewash?

[12bar]

On the subject of the guitars did anyone notice in Strummers "Players List" two posts back how it was just Blindboy and Viking stopped this song from being a Fender Strat whitewash?

Yes, although even all the strats sound different. It's the player...

[Blindboy]

On the subject of the guitars did anyone notice in Strummers "Players List" two posts back how it was just Blindboy and Viking stopped this song from being a Fender Strat whitewash?

HA! We are holdouts from the Strat Mafia...
Gerd, I'm very glad you liked it. I think everyone did a great job, and the song really speaks for itself. I was honored to be asked to contribute.
I have stated before, how much I enjoy and appreciate this forum. I credit it and the 12bar community with getting me back in the saddle with the guitar. Thanks Gerd (and the rest of you guys, too )
When I got the message from Strummer, laying out the project and inviting me in, I was 600 miles from home, sitting with my Dad in an intensive care unit, while he was recovering from a coma. It was very touch and go for a couple of weeks, but we are cautiously hopeful now. I had plenty of opportunity to think about the role a parent plays in our lives, and what it means to lose one. When I got home and was able to work on my part of this song, I tried to play how I felt about that.
Gerd, my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

[12bar]

I virtually want to hug you all for this masterpiece!

BB, I hope your dad will recover well. This explains why your guitar part fits so well.