https://soundcloud.com/user-99202317...work-tape-7521
I'm not a huge fan of the blues, but I figured I needed to write at least one. Why? Mainly because I play in a few "guitar pulls" or "pickin' circles" where people generally play covers and others play along with the song. I don't do covers, so only a few people are able to follow my originals and add anything. Figured I needed something where people could play along. If I encourage others to put in a solo between all the verses, I can turn this 2:30 second song into 5 minutes!
For the record, I'm a petroleum engineer. But I don't think you can write a blues song from the point of view of an engineer, so for this song, I am a roughneck. I do manage to poke fun at engineers a bit, though.
Bolded words are changed/new since I recorded this:
Lyrics
"Black Gold Blues"
(David Pennybaker, 2021)
Born and raised in Oklahoma / Got here fast as I could
Been spittin’ Midland dust / Far longer than I should
Been trippin’ that ol’ drill pipe / Nearly half my life
My day starts real early / Long before daylight
People love low gas prices / I get the Black Gold Blues
Was doin’
pretty good / ‘Til the crash of ‘85
Started drivin’ taxis / Just to stay alive
Laid off in ‘93 / ’99 and ‘15
This rollercoaster life / Beats all I’ve ever seen
People love low gas prices / I get the Black Gold Blues
Drive an F-150 / Never owned a Cadillac
Why does everybody / Think roughnecks live like that?
Barely gettin’ by / Just tryin’ to exist
Ain’t no engineer / Or geoscientist
People love low gas prices / I get the Black Gold Blues
Seems my job depends / On the Middle East
What will I do
when / They find everlasting peace?
Always holdin’ summits / ‘Tween sheiks and presidents
Interferin’ with my / Career development
People love low gas prices / I get the Black Gold Blues
Well, if that ain’t enough / They’re pushin’ ‘lectric cars
Tryin’ to kill an industry / That’s taken us so far
Want us to share rides / Self-drivin’ cars by Uber
Gotta save the planet / Well, ain’t that just super?
People love low gas prices / I get the Black Gold Blues