Feb 2022 bluegrass americana country
I saw this prompt in the forum (https://fawm.org/forums/topic/12615/) and it seemed like a pretty good idea!
So, here is my Haunted Banjo song! Pretty happy with it.
Haunted Banjo
February 21, 2022
https://www.johnstaplesmusic.com/FAWM2022/JohnStaples-HauntedBanjo.mp3
you prolly know the story
of a hillbilly named John
he won a golden fiddle
from the devil he'd outdone
so I went down to Hades
got myself a banjo too
But that banjo was peculiar
soon I knew that I was screwed
Oh hell, haunted Banjo
Scares me half to death
It only plays those minor chords
it is possessed
I tried to play sweet bluegrass
But every time I did
That banjo started playing
spooky melodies instead
took that banjo to my luthier
to have him fix that beast
but he turned white as a ghost and said
that banjo needs a priest
Oh hell, haunted Banjo
Scares me half to death
It only plays those minor chords
it is possessed
But from lemons I made lemonade
I did not have to settle
Just added Big Muff distortion
Now that banjo plays death metal
Oh hell, haunted Banjo
Scares me half to death
It only plays those minor chords
it is possessed
it is possessed
it is possessed
© 2022 John Staples
JohnStaplesMusic.com
@nancycunning Mar 2022
Minor chords on the banjo, that is pretty spooky. Fun story and great playing.
@andygetch Mar 2022
A possessed banjo haunted from the future indeed. A clever story and a fun listen. Although I guess it could be worse..... if the haunted banjo could only play diminished chords.
@oldlostjohn Mar 2022
Cool and fun, superb take on the haunted banjo theme. The part where you take the banjo to the luthier is fantastic, but really every stanza is a gem. Weird and lovely story, and the driving banjo picking backs it upp just as it should. And I don't think I've ever heard a banjo through a Big Muff before.
@guatecoop Mar 2022
I've been enjoying these haunted banjo songs and your song is a keeper, too! A super cool story and love your lyrics. I'm amazed that so many of you jumped on this, but it works really well. I do want to hear the death metal on banjo....maybe a collab with sapient! hehehe... Actually, the Big Muff banjo is a sound that I could see as being useful in the future. This is a very good song and I enjoyed it a lot.
@angelinapowersuit Mar 2022
Just love the idea of a haunted instrument only playing minor chords, awesome Story. So many great lines. And the bridge/resolution is awesome along with the death metal solo haha. Super fun one and great banjo playing!
@karlsburg25 Mar 2022
I have an urge to see you playing your banjo live john. I think you should do a live vid . Anyway, i have gone around a few of these haunted banjo songs as i love it in minor key so am thrilled you've done one. Love the story but more than love adore the music and the banjo playing is bloody awesome. Your vocal is bloody awesome on this mate. Top stuff
@chipwithrow Mar 2022
FAWM has become such a crowded place that it's taken me until now to listen to you - and you're one of my perennial favorites!
"Only plays minor chords" - love that! And you do some deft picking here. Such a fun story - and the death metal section is inspired!
@audrey Feb 2022
Ha ha, what an entertaining song. Great storytelling, and a very catchy melody, but those lyrics are to die for. I so enjoyed this. (Foot tapping along all the way.)
@tamsnumber4 Feb 2022
that banjo needs a priest
Such a great write, so clever, love the vocal on this and that banjo playing is amazing, I love this track, great song!!
@sw1n3flu Feb 2022
I half expected opossum to duet on this...
that banjo is sweet AF. I agree it's possessed ok maybe you're just a badass. Well done on yet another catchy beaut of a song. I'd love the bass up a bit though
@grayland Feb 2022
This song is instantly memorable!! It starts out reminding me of some ole Charlie!! I love the minor banjo roll,,, But when that banjo starts screaming thru that muff, well WOW I would never have thunk that would work, but I was mesmerized by it and had to keep playing the song over and over to satisfy my need to hear that screamin jo !!! Ingenious song...awesome!!!
@cindyrella Feb 2022
How'd I miss this? Wonderful storytelling and banjo playing! Good one!
@bethdesombre Feb 2022
What a great story! And so well told. I need to go look further into this haunted banjo challenge, but I like the idea that the banjo only lets you play certain types of music. I like the luthier verse best, and . . . of course the twist at the end (with appropriate musical shift).
@tan482 Feb 2022
This is a classic story song - love the twist at the end!
@mikeb Feb 2022
Love the sound of the minor chords on the banjo right from the start!
Love the humor put into it, and the fuzzed lead is a great touch!
@kahlo2013 Feb 2022
This is such a great song, John! Amazing story telling and fabulous vocals with the awesome banjo! Love the haunted banjo and the wonderful lines! Great and unexpected bridge! Love the death metal change up! Cool song!
@williamjames Feb 2022
Such a cool banjo riffing! cool story and the you sing it so well! was that banjo through distortion? sounded so cool!
@dragondreams Feb 2022
Do you remember, if you were a child of the sixties, hiding behind the sofa when the Daleks appeared on TV? You daren't watch, but you HAD to watch.
John FORCED me to listen to this (I'm sending my therapist's bill to him later).
But what a joy this track is! It just goes to prove that ANY instrument can be improved with masses of distortion (or should that be "Black Masses of Distortion"?).
Mr Staples... this is awesome. :-D
@chroes Feb 2022
Yeah, awesome minor chords ftw! I've followed the haunted banjo thread in the forums and found the idea super fun, but as someone who doesn't really appreciate traditional banjo music, I was also a bit skeptical. But you really drove it home! This is such a cool take! The story is told with such irony, but performed with honesty. And you know what? In minor, banjos are pretty rad!
@tseaver Feb 2022
Great take on the challenge! Love the Charlie Daniels reference, and the fuzz pedal is inspired.
FWIW, I *love* playing in minor chords on the banjo: maybe *I'm* the one possessed?
@pabrizzer Feb 2022
a minor triumph - real good