POEM - The Doctor Said Give ‘Em Jug Band Music

This is a public service

An announcement to better your life

If you want to feel good

Listen to Jug Band music

If you want to feel better

Listen to Jim Kweskin and The Jug Band

Because they are the best

Just listen and you’ll understand

Whenever there was work to be done

Mom pulled out the jug band albums

Stacked them on the automatic turntable

Hit the switch and work time started

You’d think I’d developed an aversion

But the music is that good

It makes you want to work

Makes you want to get up

Feel good and tap your feet

That’s what jug band does

That’s why the Lovin’ Spoonful liked it

Sang a song called Jug Band Music

In which the ails of various protagonists

Are only curable with one thing

Even the doctor in the song knows it

His prescription is only a few words

            Give him jug band music,

            It seems to make him feel just fine

It does and it’s true

That music is the good stuff

When the jug starts its deep thrum

And the fiddle strikes the tune

With a washboard and a kazoo

Tapping and a humming right along

As you sing out every word

The ones you’ve known since birth

Tales of hard luck, lost love

Pulling a fast one and more bad luck

But always something funny about it

A turn of phrase or a little joke

It’s the goofy uncle of bluegrass

Without all the gospel music

And sad stories that cry

Jug band never takes itself serious

It’s the music that was made

After the jug had just been emptied

When nothing seemed too bad

And everywhere you looked

There was something to laugh about