Music and the Fictive Dream

 Hard Time Killin' Floor Blues

    Hello everyone and welcome to my blog. Today I would like to talk about the song Hard Time Killin' Floor Blues, performed by Chris Thomas King and used in the soundtrack for the movie O' Brother Where Art Thou, which was released on December 22, 2000. The song was originally written by the late Blues Musician Skip James in 1931. The song however found new popularity with it's part in O' Brother Where Art Thou. 

   

    Directed by brothers Joel and Ethan Coen, O' Brother Where Art Thou is actually a take on the "Odyssey" which was written by Homer around the 7th Century B.C. The movie revolves around three escaped prisoners, Ulysses Everett McGill, Pete, and Delmar, and their journey to a promised treasure before it is lost forever. All of this while being on the run from the authorities. 

    Throughout their quest the three escapees run into all manner of strange characters, but the one who sticks out to me is a man named Tommy Johnson. Tommy, played by Chris Thomas King, is a hitchhiking musician who had claimed that he had sold his soul to the devil in return for his talent on the guitar. The gang was hesitant to believe him but after hearing him play commented "Hot damn Tommy I believe you did sell your soul to the Devil!). 

    Hard Time Killin' Floor Blues makes it's appearance when the crew find themselves sitting around a campfire one night, talking about what they will do with their share of the treasure. Tommy and his guitar steal the scene, earning complete silence from the listeners with nothing but the sounds of a crackling fire and chirping crickets. 

Campfire Movie Scene

Chris Thomas King - Hard Time Killin' Floor Blues

    The movie only captures about a minute of the song so I attached the full song for you to enjoy and listen to while I talk about why I enjoy it as much as I do. 

    The song has a folk style form, beginning with an introduction of guitar playing and using chords that instantly place you in a state of blues. As the singing begins the melody becomes just a voice with the accompaniment of a guitar. I believe that was how this song was intended to be heard, just like it is displayed in the movie. There are no choruses, the artist instead takes you through verses of powerful lyrics that tell the troubles of the killin' floor where he worked. Though the dynamics of this song are soft, it is still so powerful with the emotions that it evokes from the listener. 

    Overall, I don't think there could have been a more perfect song for this movie. The setting taking place in Mississippi during the Great Depression, the character of Tommy Johnson drawing inspiration from real life musician Robert Johnson who claimed that he had made the same deal with the devil, and even the the musician that they chose. Everything about this selection and this scene just seemed to work perfect for me. I hope that you have enjoyed this post, and if you get some free time go watch or re-watch the movie and enjoy it like I have. 

Sources

Chris Thomas King, "Hard Time Killin' Floor Blues", O' Brother Where Art Thou (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack), 2000, Youtube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mk_g3_o_ELs. 

O' Brother Where Art Thou, Joel and Ethan Coen, Touchstone Pictures, Universal Pictures, 2000. 

IMDB, "O' Brother Where Art Thou", https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0190590/, accessed on April 9, 2024. 

Country Roads Magazine, "Chris Thomas King: Musician, Artist, Producer, Actor... and Author", East Baton Rouge Library, https://countryroadsmagazine.com/travel/overnight-escapes/About-the-Author-Chris-Thomas-King/, Accessed on April 9, 2024.  

Role of the Performer

 Waylon Jennings

Today I would like to talk about the late Waylon Jennings and his importance as a performer in country music. Known later in his career as "The Outlaw", Waylon Jennings was an American country singer born in Littlefield, Texas in 1937. He started his career in the music industry early, working as a radio DJ as a young teenager, where he would meet his new friend Buddy Holly, whom he began playing the bass for. After the death of his close friend and band mate he moved back to Texas, working as a disc jockey.

Waylon picked back up his music career and eventually found himself in Nashville, Tennessee, roommates with none other than the Man in Black himself, Johnny Cash. Waylon quickly became recognized as an Outlaw with his attitude and actions against the music industry. Waylon wanted to perform the songs that he enjoyed playing, and was always advocating for himself against the records companies. 

I'd like for you to listen to the rebellious lyrics while listening to this musical example. In the song Waylon tells the story of a drifting musical performer who has seemingly grown tired of his ramblin' ways.The lyrics along with the gritty tone of his voice perfectly capture the outlaw lifestyle.

Lonesome, On'ry, and Mean

Composed by Steve Young, Performed by Waylon Jennings, "Lonesome, On'ry, and Mean", Lonesome, On'ry, and Mean, RCA Records, 1973. 

Waylon began to find like minded performers who also wanted to perform music in their own way, not under the control of the music industry, such as Willie Nelson. Together the two performed music and even released an album entitled "Wanted! The Outlaws", Waylon Jennings, RCA Records, 1976. The album was awarded with Album of the Year by the Country Music Awards (CMA). 

In this next song example I would like to for you to take notice of the steady rhythm that follows the song. It's quite simple, you can play this song on the guitar using only a D and a G chord. But through his steady rhythm and bluesy guitar riffs, he makes this song very enjoyable.  

 Waymore's Blues

Composed by Curtis Buck, Performed by Waylon Jennings, "Waymore's Blues", Dreaming My Dreams, RCA Records, 1975 

 

Waylon continued playing music and performing live all through the 80's and 90's, and was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2001. He passed away shortly after in February of 2002. 

I believe that Waylon Jennings was crucial and even needed for the country music industry. He left a legacy of emphasizing the enjoyment of the performer. His rebellious and uncompromising stance paved the way for many artists to follow in his footsteps and challenge the music industry who have taken advantage of performers for so long. 

 

Sources

Country Music Hall of Fame, "Waylon Jennings", accessed on April 2, 2024, https://www.countrymusichalloffame.org/hall-of-fame/waylon-jennings

Biography, "Waylon Jennings", accessed on April 2, 2024, https://www.biography.com/musicians/waylon-jennings