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Thomas Edison Blues |
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I went home after the Edison lesson and wrote a song about Tom, most of it based on History of Broadcasting fact. That is, I started with what Jack had just taught but elaborated. You might say I even projected, imagining that Tom Edison would have been sort of a mid- to late-19th century superstar. He would have had groupies and one might have followed him back to his lab late in the night, which would be the best time for an inventor to work, especially on something like a light bulb. What better musical style to use, I decided as I picked up my guitar, than the talking blues. Aside from the fact that talking blues was one of the few styles I could manage back then. Lesser-known Edison inventions such as the thomatrope, phantasmagorica, prakcinescope, and pharaktoscope populate my cat-and-mouse laboratory orgy. In my verses, Edison the ultimate geek seems more interested in his work than what the young woman has to offer. Seemed like a good story line to me then. And, in fact, the song has entertained friends for decades. Later I added a chorus, which helped tie the story together and give it a purpose beyond pure fun:
The layout of the Inventure Place in Akron, Ohio, bears out the truth of my chorus-summation. Literally one half houses invention displays. The other half is devoted to what made inventions get up off the workbench and into marketplace. Hearing my song, you might conclude the Inventure Place should be divided into thirds—a third for invention, a third for marketing, and a third for all the groupies who have given the Edisons of the world the passion to invent. |
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Don't take my word for it. Dig deeper. |
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