Woke up this mornin’…

The Adrian Mitchell blues (Christmas 2008)

I use rock and jazz and blues rhythms because I love that music.

I hope my poetry has a relationship with good-time rock’n roll.

– Adrian Mitchell (Shadow Poet Laureate; 1932-2008)

Woke up this mornin’

Got a space within my bed

Woke up this mornin’

Got a face that’s full o’ dread

Woke up this mornin’

Got a bass within my head

Playin’ the Adrian Mitchell blues

The Adrian Mitchell blues

Bump

     Crump

          Frump

               Grump

Thumpin’ out the Adrian Mitchell blues

The Adrian Mitchell blues

                    Hump

                         Lump

                              Rump

                                   Slump

Trumpin’ out the Adrian Mitchell blues

The Adrian Mitchell blues

Woke up one mornin’

And found that you were dead

Woke up one mornin’

And found a world of lead

Woke up one mornin’

And found all you had read

Writin’ the Adrian Mitchell blues

The Adrian Mitchell blues

Bound

     Crowned

          Drowned

               Frowned

Poundin’ out the Adrian Mitchell blues

The Adrian Mitchell blues

                    Ground

                         Hound

                              Mound

                                   Round

Soundin’ out the Adrian Mitchell blues

The Adrian Mitchell blues

But now my head is better

Read so much of what you wrote

Nearly every single letter

Heard the words sing from your throat

I’ll always be your debtor

You will always get my vote

The perfect antidote

Our greatest ever… pote

Floatin’ out the Adrian Mitchell blues

The Adrian Mitchell blues

Floatin’ out

     the Adrian Mitchell

          blues

               in all

                    their laureate hues

The Adrian Mitchell blues

The Adrian Mitchell blues

The Adrian Mitchell blues