Today’s post was written by Paul.
As has become tradition, I uploaded an Ira Louvin original, “Scared of the Blues” on April 21, 2022 in honor of his birthday. Mr. Josh Griggs was kind enough to lend his Cramer’s style piano, similar to the original.
When you look at the catalogue of Louvin original songs, it’s amazing to see how Ira could adapt with the changing styles around him yet still produce songs that remained totally genuine. The lyrics of this song certainly reveal a speaker who, as Pap would say, has got it bad! What I mean by that is that the speaker seems willing to accept any level of association with the object of his love, similar to Merle Haggard’s song, “Love Me When You Can,” in which he literally sings, “I’ll be satisfied with any crumb you throw me.”
To me, “Scared of the Blues” is one of Ira’s songs that seems to show an awareness of the 1960’s country music trends, when things started to sound a little more like late 50’s rock. This song doesn’t feature the typical 4/4 or waltz rhythm of most country songs, including that of most Louvin songs. You can see in the first take (which plays second in the video) that I was finding it a little difficult or awkward in places.
In a couple of the books that I read about the Louvins, it said that Ira carried a small notepad and that whenever someone said a phrase that sounded interesting to him, like a possible song title, he would jot it down. Toward the end of his life, he carried a small tape recorder that plugged into the car cigarette lighter, and he would speak the lines into the recorder. “Scared of the Blues,” is such an interesting, original phrase that I can’t help but wonder if it didn’t come up in some random conversation and was captured by Ira in his notepad or recorder. It could have also been a subconscious reverberation for Ira of the Delmores’ “Blues Stay Away from Me,” which was originally conceptualized because the Delmores were tired of audiences and radio DJ’s asking them to play blues songs.
I guess if you want something to stay away from you, then in a sense, you’re scared of it. Ira was certainly aware of the Delmores, especially since they came from very close to the same area as the Louvins.
Anyway, back to the Louvin songs… I realize that Charlie’s name is also attached to all of the Louvin original songs (as co-writer). I don’t mean to take anything away from Charlie, but it seems pretty obvious that Ira was the song writer, and Charlie intimated as much many times over the years in interviews and conversations. Charlie wrote a few good songs after separating from Ira, but the string of masterpieces seemed to stop after their separation/Ira’s death. So that’s why I think that Ira was the songwriter and that he graciously attached Charlie’s name just so they could split royalties 50/50.
For whatever reason, Capitol sometimes sat on Louvin recordings and didn’t release them until several years after the recordings were done. I would imagine it had something to do with marketing. According to basic internet research, this song was written and recorded 3-4 years before “The Last Date,” Floyd Cramer’s most famous instrumental.
What makes that fact especially interesting to me is that Cramer played on the recording of the Louvins doing “Scared of the Blues.” To me, the two songs are somewhat similar. By no means am I implying that Cramer copied Ira’s song. However, I think songwriting can involve the subconscious mind, and all musicians are influenced by the sounds and music that they hear.
I hope you enjoyed this year’s birthday tribute to the great Ira Louvin. Thank you for watching.
Lyrics below:
Let me go with you. Don’t leave me; I’ll miss you. I’ll love you. Now that I’ve kissed you, I’ll never forget you; I know it’s true. If I can only tag along, I’ll do it to be with you. Don’t make my heart believe it’s wrong. Tell me you want me too. Let me go with you. Don’t leave me I’ll miss you. I’m scared of the blues. Scared of the blues.
Let me go with you, and I’ll never let you get lonesome. Let me be near you and my love is yours when you need someone. If only to be your old standby, having to share your kiss; I’d rather be than left to die, craving the love I’d miss. Let me go with you. Don’t leave me I’ll miss you. I’m scared of the blues. Scared of the blues.
Listen to my original singles released on Spotify here.
Paul
After watching Ken Burns’ documentary on country music, I realized two things: one, everything I thought I knew about Hank Williams was wrong; and two, I needed more blues in my life. It’s hard to find good radio stations that play traditional blues, though; can anyone recommend one?
That song made me think of albums that my mom had of Floyd Cramer. Seems like I remember him sitting at a piano bench with dark hair and wearing what they call a cigar jacket. That had to be close to 50 years ago that I saw that album cover. I’m not sure if I am remembering correctly, but that’s what I thought of. Thanks for sharing.
Thank-you Tipper for sharing “Blues Music”. So many of us that live in the mountains love the Blues. When we talk about music of the mountains we immediately think of Blue Grass or Country and Western tunes. All of it is a part of us and is deep in out heritage.
Kathy Patterson
Easy to hear exactly what you wrote about. Real musicians cross fertilize each other. And they tap the collective consciousness of their era.
I relate with the idea. I have had some blues I never wanted to see come round again. They will take you places it is not safe to go and you may not make it back in one piece.
I carry a little spiral abound notebook to church and jot down short notes that come to mind during the preaching. Some of them lead to bigger things. When I first started, it felt strange, sort of disrespectful. But it makes me dig harder and that is a good thing. It is a version of “bread on the waters”.
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Imitation is how we learn. It is the only way we learn. We learn our language from the people we are around from birth. We hear something, we repeat it. If it resonates we memorize it. It becomes part of us. So, Cramer mimicked Louvin or Louvin mimicked Cramer or both mimicked Marty Robbins (that’s whose songs this one reminds me of). Either, neither, and, or, but!
The older I get and the more music I hear, the more I find all or parts of songs are found in previous songs. I have tried to write songs but stop when I find what I have written in someone else’s work. “Oh yeow, that’s where I heard that!”
All that being said, you and Mr. Josh Griggs did an excellent job of “imitating” Charlie’s song! Both times! So now, upgrade it, enhance it and make it your own!
They sounded so good together. I’ve never heard that song before. Thank you for sharing!
The Louvin brothers had a rough life…
Paul does such a great job with writing his descriptions. He makes me want to learn more about everything in this world – not just the song he is writing about. Learning is an adventure that my brain loves to be on! Life is a constant process of adding knowledge to our days. I have enjoyed every artist Paul has mentioned. There are so many. Music was always something I took for granted until about ten years ago. Then I started really paying attention to the sounds of the various instruments, and learning to appreciate each individual one. Paul has taught me to think more deeply about all that is involved in a song – from the meaning of the lyrics, to the instruments used in the performance of the song, the artist singing it, and the process involved in recording the song. All things I just never gave a thought to before. I love history, and Paul has opened a whole new rabbit trail for me to follow – the history of all things to do with music. He did an excellent job on this song. Every song he touches he brings to life.
Donna. : )
In my opinion, Ira Louvin had one of the best voices in the music business. Paul, your birthday tribute would have made him proud.
I liked this song’s melody. A crumb of love? Please take your bare smidgeons and be gone- lest you get bad hurt with a cast iron skillet!!!! I mean that’s the way I feel about love- either a feller is ALL IN or ALL OUT!!! No in betweens in WV… get on down the road with parts and pieces. I don’t need crumbs. I need a hearty meal.
Thank you for that. Haven’t seen anyone be able to ‘better’ that Cramer sound and I so appreciate you keeping the Louvins nearby. Some of the sounds and lyrics from the 50s and 60s, wow that is 60 or 70 years ago, cannot be replicated nor beaten. …makes ya kinda close you eyes and remember. Thanks again Tipper…God Bless you and your family…Tell Ganny hello for me.
Enjoyed your singing this morning Paul and Mr. Griggs piano playing too!! On my way to church now, and it looks like its going to be a warm rainy day here in SC PA:)
Good job! Happy birthday, Ira Louvin.
Loved this song and as always Paul sounded great. Have a Blessed Day ❤
Good job! I enjoyed both renditions. You two are good together, you both have a gentle touch.
That was so nice to listen too, and so interesting to read about… thanks for the lyrics also.