Just the Right Bullets, The Black Rider, Tom Waits [207]

Playwright Simon Stephens and Composer David Shrubsole join Martin and Sam to talk about the influence of Kurt Weill, the nature of musical theatre and the origins of the story at the heart of The Black Rider. Looking at Porgy and Bess and the performance of Nina Simone in terms of themes of addiction, we touch on other autobiographical elements of the play, as well as the effect of poetic vs dramatic lyric writing. website: songbysongpodcast.com twitter: @songbysongpod e-mail: [email protected] Music extracts used for illustrative/review purposes include: Just The Right Bullets, The Black Rider, Tom Waits (1993) I Loves You Porgy, Little Girl Blue, Nina Simone (1958) We think your Song by Song experience will be enhanced by hearing, in full, the songs featured in the show, which you can get hold of from your favourite record shop or online platform. Please support artists by buying their music, or using services which guarantee artists a revenue - listen responsibly. Lyrics - Just The Right Bullets There is a light in the forest There is a face in the tree I'll pull you out of the chorus And the first one's always free You can never go a-hunting With just a flintlock and a hound You won't go home with a bunting If you blow a hundred rounds It takes much more than wild courage Or you'll hit the tattered clouds You must have just the right bullets And the first one's always free You must be careful in the forest Broken glass and rusty nails If you're to bring back something for us I have bullets for sale Why be a fool when you can chase away Your blind and your gloom I have blessed each one of these bullets And they shine just like a spoon To have sixty silver wishes Is a small price to pay They'll be your private little fishes And they'll never swim away I just want you to be happy That's my only little wish I'll fix your wagon and your musket And the spoon will have its dish And I shudder at the thought of your Poor empty hunter's pouch So I'll keep the wind from your barrel And bless the roof of your house