St. Louis Blues
W.C. Handy · 1914 · public domain
Two worlds in one song: 12-bar blues in major, then the tango strain flips to the parallel minor — a Parallel Flip you can date to 1914.
KeyCDbDEbEFF#GAbABbB12-bar + habanera strain
12-bar strain
Verse 1 (over the 12-bar)
G7I hate to see that evening sun go down,
C7I hate to see that evening G7sun go down —
D7it makes me think C7I'm on my G7last go-round
Habanera strain (parallel minor)
GmSt. Louis woman, D7with her diamond rings,
D7pulls that man around by her Gmapron strings;
Gm'twant for powder D7and for store-bought hair,
D7the man I love would not have Gmgone nowhere
Verse 2 (12-bar)
G7Feeling tomorrow like I feel today,
C7feeling tomorrow like I G7feel today —
D7I'll pack my grip and C7make my G7getaway
G71⁷
C74⁷
G71⁷
D75⁷
C74⁷
G71⁷
D75⁷