Do What YOU Love!

My Inspiration From A Hillbilly Jug Band Busking In Nashville

There are times I get very frustrated and discouraged when I try certain endeavors like writing, art or music and don’t get my desired outcome. When I start sinking into the deep well of depression, I stop and reflect on memories of a jug band I saw playing on lower Broadway in Nashville, Tennesse on a hot July day in 2012. They even inspired me to write a song about them. I tried to give it a Creedance Clearwater “Down By The Corner” feel

“Do What They Love”

Verse 1

Downtown Nashville’s 109 degrees.

The tourists flock to cool honky Tonks.

They pack ‘em in like sardines.

While on the corner sidewalk, the jug band players sing.

They’re cranking out down home mountain folk in the brutal Summer heat as they…

Chorus:

Do what they love for the people passing by.

They do what they love. Most pay them no mind.

Still they do what they love though the tips can be so lame.

They’re doing what they love even if they can’t make a name!

Verse 2

Jimbo’s strumming on a beater ax, playing blue grass like an ace,

As he hits an old kick pedal on a bungied shut suitcase.

Abby’s holding that rhythm strong as she’s slapping on the spoons.

The wash tub bassist only needs one string on all the tunes as they…

(Chorus)

Verse 3

Every day they have a lot to face just to get out to play

There are the cops, the cranky vendors, the heat. the cold, the rain.

So if you’re walking down Broadway and they happen to me you smile.

Won’t you throw your spare change in and listen for a while, as they…

Final Chorus

Do what they love for the people passing by.

They do what they love and some are paying them mind as they

Do what they love. Now they tips don’t look so lame.

They”re doing what they love and now they’re making a name

Doing what they love. Doing what they love!

On a number of occasions I would see them playing with people stopping to watch, and their tip bucket would be full of cash. Sometimes I joined in with them on my ukulele for fun.

One if them did make a name: “Abby The Spoon Lady* who has gained a huge following on You Tube.

One verse I left out by suggestion of songwriting critics was about the religious zealots who set up a sound system right next to them to yell fire and brimstone rants at complete strangers on the street. They drowned out the jug band while condemning people about sins like adultery, homosexuality, masterbation, and wearing yoga pants.

Still the jug band players kept doing what they love!