(1) Like most of african folklore songs, it was simply a mixolydian
line when people came Africa to America.
(C mixolydian)
// C7 / / / / / / / / / // C7 /....
// I7 / / / / / / / / / // I7 /....
(2) To make the ending more dramatic, V7 was introduced
(There sharpen the bIIV note (bB --> B)
(C Mixo.) (G Mixo.) (C Mixo.)
// C7 / / / / / / / / G7 / / / // C7 /....
// I7 / / / / / / / / V7 / / / // I7 /....
(3) Lyrics of first 4 bars are often repeated in next 4 bars.
The refrein is 'nuanced' with flattened 3rd (E --> Eb)
(C Mixo.) (C Dori.) (G Mixo.) (C Mixo.)
// C7 / / / /Cm7 / / / / G7 / / / // C7 /
// I7 / / / /Im7 / / / / V7 / / / // I7 /....
(4) With the contact of Western harmony of three chords,
someone found the F major F-A-C for C Dori. sounds cool.
(Forming F7)
(C Mixo.) (C Dori.) (G Mixo.) (C Mixo.)
// C7 / / / / F7 / / / / G7 / / / // C7 /
// I7 / / / /IV7 / / / / V7 / / / // I7 /....
(5) 'Dramatisation' of last 4 bars around 1990?
(C Mixo.) (C Dori.) (G Mixo.) (C Mixo.)
// C7 / / / / F7 / / / / G7 / / C7 / G7 // C7 /
// I7 / / / /IV7 / / / / V7 / / I7 / V7 // I7 /....
(C Mixo.) (C Dori.) (G Mixo.) (C Mixo.)
// C7 / / / / F7 / / / / G7 / / C7 / G7 // C7 /
// I7 / / / /IV7 / / / / V7 / IV7 / I7 / V7 // I7 /...
(C Mixo-Dori-Mixo.) (C Dori. - Mixo) (G Mixo.) (C Mixo.)
// C7 / Cm7 / C7 / / F7 / / I7 / / G7 / F7 / C7 / G7 // C7 /
// I7 / Im7 / I7 / /IV7 / / I7 / / V7 / IV7 / I7 / V7 // I7 /...
(5) stanbdard change (country blues): around 1920's?
(C Mixo-Dori-Mixo.) (C Dori- Mixo)(G Mixo C Dor-Mix G Mix C Mixo.)
// C7 / F7 / C7 / / F7 / / I7 / / G7 / F7 / C7 / G7 // C7 /
// I7 / IV7 / I7 / /IV7 / / I7 / / V7 / IV7 / I7 / V7 // I7 /...
(6) the later history of blues change (using II-V pivot chords)
You all know better than I...
muchan