Clint Edwards Music.com

“Storyville”

Music composed, orchestrated, and recorded by CLINT EDWARDS

Lyrics by MICHAEL AMAN

From “Becoming Tennessee”

Performed by CICILY DANIELS

This month’s post features a new demo song from my musical “Becoming Tennessee.” Laila Brown sings “Storyville” to Tom “Tennessee” Williams and Hannon, recalling her glorious past as a brothel madame and how she earned her place in New Orleans society.  The sounds of Jelly Roll Morton-inspired piano playing return her to her youth and a much different time when prostitution was legal and prominent in an apportioned section of the city known as “Storyville.”

“Storyville”

Way back then I was a pretty little thing
In Storyville.
The men would come just to have a little fling
In Storyville.
It was all very legal,
And elegant, classy, and regal.
‘cuz I was queen and men felt like my king
in Storyville.

Bought it cheap after the 1909 flood
In Storyville.
My skin as smooth as Mississippi mud
In Storyville.
Had the face, had the booty,
But biz’niz takes more than just beauty.
It takes a dose of acid in your blood
In dear ol’ Storyville.

Sure it was tawdry and dancin’ in the street,
A great way to make a dollah.
I was a goddess.  Men worshipped at my feet.
My own little private Valhalla.

(She grabs Tom and envelopes him in a dance.  Hannon cuts in and shows Tom how it’s done.)

If you were smart you could stay out of harm.
It wasn’t all champagne and crystal.
I always carried my good luck charm –
A pretty little pearl handled pistol.

These sleazy joints will never be as nice
As Storyville.
Progress came, but that progress had a price –
You guessed it.
Storyville.
Hundreds of hookers and hordes of the hottest musicians,
Put out of work by the whim of a few politicians.
End of an era because of their damn inhibitions.
How I miss my den of sin and vice,
My Storyville.

Upcoming performances:

January 9th, 2009 - “Three Tangos based on themes of Piazzolla” played by pianist Xiayin Wang and the Amity Players at Carnegie Hall, 7:30 PM.

December 30th, 2008 - I will be playing at “One If By Land, Two If By Sea” from 6-11.