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Blues Run the Game

[Jackson C. Frank]

Blues Run the Game is a classic 60’s song, written by Jackson C. Frank. It is one of three of his that Sandy Denny recorded; the other two are Milk and Honey and You Never Wanted Me.

Frank’s own recording of Blues Run the Game was originally released in 1965 on his eponymous LP, Jackson C. Frank. It was included in 1975 on the Island / Transatlantic anthology compiled by Karl Dallas, The Electric Muse.

Sandy Denny recorded Blues Run the Game for the first time at home in 1966 at the age of 19. This recording was included in 1989 on the fan club cassette, The Attic Tracks Vol. 3. She recorded it also for two radion broadcasts. The first, from the BBC World Service programme “The Strawberry Hill Boys Sing and Play Folk Songs” on 21 February 1967, was never published. The second, recorded on 6 March 1967 for the BBC World Service radio programme “Cellar Full of Folk” and broadcast on 18 March 1967, was finally made available in 2007 on the Live at the BBC 3CD+DVD set.

Bert Jansch and Al Stewart recorded Blues Run the Game for the 1993 film Acoustic Routes.

A previously unreleased version of Steve Tilston singing Blues Run the Game was included in 2007 on his Free Reed anthology Reaching Back.

Martin Simpson sang Blues Run the Game on his 2017 CD Trails & Tribulations.

Lyrics

Jackson C. Frank sings Blues Run the Game

Catch a boat to England, baby
Maybe to Spain
Wherever I have gone
Wherever I’ve been and gone
Wherever I have gone
The blues are all the same

Send out for whisky, baby
Send out for gin
Me and room service, honey
Me and room service, babe
Me and room service, well
We’re living a life of sin

When I’m not drinking, baby
You are on my mind
When I’m not sleeping, honey
When I ain’t sleeping Mama
When I’m not sleeping
You know you find me crying

Try another city, baby
Another town
Wherever I have gone
Wherever I’ve been and gone
Wherever I have gone
The blues come following down

Living is a gamble, baby
Loving’s much the same
Wherever I have played
Whenever I’ve thrown them dice
Wherever I have played
The blues have run the game

Maybe tomorrow, honey
Some place down the line
I’ll wake up older
So much older Mama
I’ll wake up older
And I’ll just stop all my trying

(repeat first verse)

Sandy Denny sings Blues Run the Game

Catch a boat to England, baby
Maybe to Spain
Wherever I have gone
Wherever I’ve been and gone
Wherever I have gone
The blues are all the same

Send out for whisky, baby
Send out for gin
Me and room service, honey
Me and room service, babe
Me and room service
We’re living a life of sin

When I’m not drinking, baby
You’re on my mind
When I’m not sleeping, honey
When I’m not sleeping, honey
When I’m not sleeping
Well you know you find me crying

Maybe tomorrow, baby
Some place down the line
I’ll wake up older
So much older, honey
I’ll wake up older
And I’ll just stop all my trying

Living is a gamble, baby
Loving’s much the same
Wherever I have gone
Wherever I’ve been and gone
Wherever I have gone
The blues have run the game

(repeat first verse)

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