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Dust Pneumonia Blues

from ABYSSINIA (Album) by Garrington T Jones

/

about

After many years of soldering electronic circuits, I was diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a condition that could worsen as I get older. However, the effects of lung disease from industrial and agricultural processes have been with us for many years. When Woody Guthrie wrote his songs about Americans who struggled through those terrible Dust Bowl years of the 1930’s, he recorded a song about people who lived with Dust Pneumonia, a fatal lung disease that is akin to COPD.

I hope Woody Guthrie would approve of this arrangement of Dust Pneumonia Blues? It was such great fun to record.

lyrics

I’ve got the dust pneumonia, pneumonia in my lung,
I’ve got the dust pneumonia, pneumonia in my lung,
And I’m gonna sing now, that dust pneumonia ,
That dust pneumonia song.

I’ve got the dust pneumonia, pneumonia in my lung,
I’ve got the dust pneumonia, pneumonia in my lung,
And I’m gonna sing ya’ll, this dust pneumonia song.

Went to the doctor, the doctor said “My son”,
Yeah, I went to the doctor, the doctor said “My son”,
“You got that dust pneumonia and you ain’t got long”.

Now there ought to be some yodelling in this song,
Yeah, there ought to be some yodelling in this song,
But I can’t yodel for the rattling in my lung.

My best girl sings the dust pneumonia blues,
Yeah my best girl sings the dust pneumonia blues,
She loves me cause she’s got the dust pneumonia too.

If it wasn’t for choppin’ my hoe would turn to rust,
If it wasn’t for choppin’ my hoe would turn to rust,
You can’t find a woman in this black old Texan dust.

Down in Oklahoma the wind blows mighty strong,
Down in Oklahoma the wind blows mighty strong,
If you can’t get a mama sing a California song.

I’ve got the dust pneumonia, pneumonia in my lung,
Yeah, I’ve got the dust pneumonia, pneumonia in my lung,
And I’m gonna sing ya’ll, that dust pneumonia song.
Yeah, I’m gonna sing ya’ll, that dust pneumonia song.
I’m gonna sing ya’ll, the dust pneumonia song.


Lyrics by Woody Guthrie -1964
Music arrangement by G C Tolley
© G C Tolley - 2017
® New Tradition Music - 2017

credits

from ABYSSINIA (Album), released October 9, 2017
Garrington T. Jones: Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Mandolin.
Carol Lee Sampson: Backing Vocals.
Tone Tanner: Electric Dobra Guitar.
Dave Draper: Bass Guitar.
Rick A’Mortis: Drums.

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about

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Garrington T Jones England, UK

Garrington T Jones is a performer and recording artist who gives the art of lyrical storytelling a modern day edge.

Garrington describes himself as a "Rhythm shaker, a riff chaser, a lyric hunter, a song maker and a lover of acoustic Blues, Folk & Roots music. ... more

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