> Not sure yet about "Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out".
Well I'm sure. Took a deep dive. Marianas Trench deep dive.
After listening to a half dozen versions of this song, I love it. Except none of the versions are the same. I love it. Everybody uses different lyrics, number of verses, and other variations within the song. I love it. As far as I can tell, song was written sometime in the 1920s, possibly by someone named Jimmy Cox, and became famous in the 30s when Bessie Smith sang it. The song seems to have followed a route akin to a folk song where everyone ends up with a different lyric version except for the title, the first line, and the multiple refrain(s) of the title. I love it. All this research shows it's kind of fair game for anyone, and probably public domain at that.
I'm looking to start with 2 verses, much like people from Scrapper Blackwell to Eric Clapton have done. Add a ragtime intro and song feel and maybe a rock and roll break, repeat second verse, and add a ragtime outro. I have chosen Key of 'C', mostly because I like how the chords fit in naturally with the song. Speaking of chords, everyone seems to have their own, of course, but I have made some notes on different versions and think I have my first foray in place.
On the third line, I did end up using an F major chord followed by a diminished F#, followed by a quick semi-tone walk-up to the semi arpeggio of C, ending with an A7. And on the back end of the 4th line, Dixie used a well placed D7, done with a C7 shape leading on the 5th fret. I liked this because if I play the open high 'e' string with it, it becomes something like a D9 and sounds great. Especially followed by a cowboy 'G' with some notes added/subtracted and walking around to make it a G6 (open lower e) and then the D on the B string and back up again to G while harmonizing with the lower notes of the G chord.
So now I have a plan all ready, and the next step is to make sure it's proficient, this of course is the hard work portion. And then stir in some lyrics. The first verse is very similar for most versions, but after that it's Dodge City. Rollin', rollin', rollin'. Keep them doggies rollin'.
And this one's now rolling along like an out of control freight train. Hmm. Freight Train.
Don
PS > I've had a wicked lot of fun with this so far.