YOU #13 I've Endured: Ola Belle Reed

It has been a while.  The summer is finally giving way to the fall, which is awesome.  This, of course, means a return to more regular life.  I love regular life...

While I have been working for most of the past few months, the church has been rather quiet.  This is (hopefully!) about to change, Therefore, in honor of "Kickoff Sunday,"  I am using this song as a musical "reading" whether we get to actually play and sing it is up in the air a bit--there is a plague on you know--but it certainly fits how I am feeling these days.  Last year was a whole damn lot and anyone who got through it has endured indeed.

Ola Belle Reed is a forgotten national treasure.  Her lyrical style is in the great "Old Time" (or traditional folk) tradition.  Each word is simple enough to carry the weight in this song of both mourning and celebration.  You should check her out.  Over the years this song has become a bluegrass standard, used as a structure upon which to hang some truly fabulous solos.  This is just me.  Pay attention to the words and see if you feel something... 

I am not playing a uke here, perhaps obviously.  My relatively new off-hand weapon is the tenor banjo, an instrument designed in the 1920's and '30's as a rhythm instrument for jazz and other forms that use horns. This banjo is LOUD and the three usual tunings either mimic the intervals of the mandolin/fiddle or the guitar, with "standard" tuning being that if the mandola/viola.  I am using "Irish" tuning, like the mandolin (what I usually play) but an octave lower.

One theory of how "tenor" got into it's name is as an alteration of "tango banjo"...but it is hard to think of any banjo in tango music.  Today it is popular in jazz, old time and Irish trad forms among others...but NOT bluegrass where the 5 string reigns.  The tenor banjo is usually played with a pick which alters how it is heard.  There aren't any complicated rolls for example. I bought it because of the plague...and because I turned 50, Just like Ola in the song. 

Anyway, I am playing it in D. It mostly alternates between D and G (the I and IV) with a brief foray into an A chord (the V) at the word "one" in the chorus.

I’ve Endured
David Reed/ Ola Belle Reed

Born in the mountains fifty years ago
I’ve trod the hills and valleys through the rain and snow
Seen the lightning flashing, I've heard the thunder roll
I’ve endured, I’ve endured,
How long must one endure

Barefoot in the summer on into the fall
Too many mouths to feed, they couldn’t clothe them all
Went to church on Sunday to learn the golden rule
I’ve endured, I’ve endured,
How long must one endure

I’ve worked for the rich, I’ve lived with the poor
I’ve seen many a heartache, there I’ll see many more
I’ve lived, loved and sorrowed, been to success’ door
I’ve endured, I’ve endured,
How long must one endure