Friday Top 5: Dehydration Blues
It’s no secret to native Texans, but to all you recent immigrants to the Lone Star State may have noticed lately, it’s F-ING RELENTLESSLY HOT OUTSIDE! With Temperatures hovering above 100 and no relief in sight, it’s hard to stay pleasant. Heat waves and droughts like this one are so damned oppressive, and may make you just feel flat-out angry and depressed at the world, your fellow man, and especially those teasing bastard clouds, hanging there just laughing at us and our collective misery. F those assholes, seriously its thundering as I write this with no rain to show for it, WTF?!. As unfortunate as it is, the summertime blues are a universal feeling as we all pine for the blissful 80 degree temperatures and rain of October. With the unyielding Texas sun beating down on us like its red headed step-child, it felt only right to create a FT5 for the Dehydration Blues. Crank the A/C, grab an Arnold Palmer, and try not to move an inch. Don’t worry; our sole day or two of autumn is right around the corner.
*For the sake of continuity with the theme, any mention of a “woman”, “her”, or “she” in these songs, I directly equated to that fickle bitch Mother Nature.
5. Stevie Ray Vaughan – Texas Flood
We sure could use a little more rain in our lives these days, but a likely flash flood might make matters worse. What we need is a good old fashioned Seattle monsoon. A couple months straight of rain should do it. Paging hurricane season, “Donde esta?” In lieu of rain and the ludicrously massive amount we need, how about we just pray for more guitar work like this in our fair city. Seems like a simple enough request.
4. Big Bill Broonzy- Summertime Blues
I had to feature at least one song with this title and it was damned sure not going to be Eddie Cochran’s or the hundreds of covers (Olivia Newton-John, anyone). No, there ain’t no cure, but Broonzy’s mix of ragtime, horns, and his distinctive southern drawl sure makes me feel better about sweat stains at 7 AM watching my plants wither away.
3. Blind Willie Johnson – The Rain Don’t Fall On Me
“Oh the rain, let it rain. The rain don’t fall on me.” That’s a straight forward lyric, though the religious overtones throughout Blind Willie Johnson’s discography apply many more deeper meanings. In regards to the topic, let’s just leave it at that. I just heard the squirrels outside singing along, “The rain don’t fall on me.“ It’s cute how miserable they are.
2. Howlin Wolf – I Asked For Water
Howlin’ Wolf’s signature raspy tone and the idea of the scorched earth go well together, don’t ya think? The man had a way with words and it certainly feels that in many ways we pray for rain and we get gasoline by way of this ruthless heat. It’s enough to drive a man to drink. Bartender!
1. Son House – Dry Spell Blues
“Well, it has been so dry, you can make a powder house out of the world… …I throwed up my hands, Lord, and solemnly swore I have throwed up my hands, Lord, and solemnly swore Well, ain’t no need of me changing towns, it’s the drought everywhere I go It’s a dry old spell everywhere I been “
Son House just said it like he saw it. The blues can ease your pain in a cathartic sense. When the earth leaves you high and dry, the blues will always fill your cup.
Well, I suppose it’s reverse psychology because the moment I started writing this piece, the asshole clouds broke and we got a full 5 drops of rain. Unfortunately, the drought remains even through extremely temporary relief. I hope you Austinite’s enjoyed it as much as I did. Now, back to the blues. I’ll be in the pool until October if you need me.
This is a damn fine Top 5.