Sessionman's Blues

by Clive James and Pete Atkin

I've got the sessionman's blues
I played on three albums today
I paid a sessionman's dues
I played what they told me to play
Then I climbed in my Rover 3-Litre and motored away

I've got the sessionman's Blues
The squattin' in a booth alone blues

I've got the sessionman's blues
But I get the dots right from the start
I drink a sessionman's booze
But my tenor blows what's on the chart
A single run through and I've got the whole solo by heart

I've got the sessionman's blues
The squattin' in a booth alone
Isolated microphone blues

I've got the sessionman's blues
I'm booked up a lifetime ahead
I get a sessionman's news
The voice on the blower just said
They want me to work on the afternoon after I'm dead

I've got the sessionman's blues
The squattin' in a booth alone
Isolated microphone
Doublin' on baritone blues

Note (from Collected Poems)

Back in the day, the sessionmen were heroes of mine. They were the musicians who could be relied upon to come into the studio, read the music, and play it correctly first time. A lot of well-known musicians were denied a reliable source of income because they couldn’t do this.