One of the forms that rock and roll music evolved from was “the Blues.” Besides containing some inspirational rhythms and jams, Blues artists typically would sing songs about the pains of life, such as loneliness, sadness, regret, remorse, and discontent. The concept behind the blues is that joyous music could come out of a bad situation.
The Blues started out back in the time of the Civil War, evolving from African music brought over by slaves. By the 1920s and 1930s, Blind Lemon Jefferson, Robert Johnson, and Lightnin' Hopkins had spread the popularity of the Blues throughout the South. In the 1940s and 1950s, Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, and Elmore James had popularized their styles in the North, while B.B. King and others popularized their styles in the South. These legends of music set the stage for the growth of the Blues in England during the 1960s by such acts as Eric Clapton, the Rolling Stones, and Jimi Hendrix. In the great tradition of the Blues, this category contains song lyrics that convey regret, sadness, and loneliness.
Music can provide friendship and act as a reliable companion to people. Like a friend, sad melancholy songs can provide empathy and comfort on a personal level. Empathy and compassion by friends can assist in the self healing process in life.
However, at some point people need to move on to bigger and better things, taking with them any positive memories and lessons learned. By moving on to new experiences, new developments and opportunities may occur. In addition, it gives someone something to look forward to in life, which helps the healing process even further. The end result is new memories will be generated to take the place of the more sorrowful and painful memories.
Life is full of ups and downs. Because of this, perhaps one should take appreciation in the good things that have been presented to us each day while we have them, and not take them for granted, no matter how small or insignificant they may seem.
Although sadness and the blues are a natural part of life, does it have to last an entire life time?