July 1, 1915-January 12, 1992
Today is Willie Dixon’s Birthday! I could commemorate this by listing the people he wrote songs for, but that’s just about everybody in the Chicago Blues Scene. I could list the songs he wrote, but I’m pretty sure you have heard at least 3 or 4 variations of all of those too. I could bring out a few Willie Dixon quotes, but you should know what he had to say about the Blues by now.
So what I will say is this. Chicago Blues would not be Chicago Blues without Willie Dixon. He was the powerhouse of Chess Records. He helped make the rock bands that “borrowed” the blues pay for what they borrowed. He knew right was right and tried to make it so. And I will let Willie Dixon say the rest; according to his autobiography “I Am the Blues, the Willie Dixon Story” this is his favorite song that he wrote.
“It Don’t Make Sense (You Can’t Make Peace)” by Willie Dixon
– Copyright 1984, Hoochie Coochie Music
You have made great planes to scan the skies
You gave sight to the blind with other men’s eyes
You even made submarines stay submerged for weeks
But it don’t make sense you can’t make peace.
You take one man’s heart and make another man live
You even go to the moon come back thrilled
Why, you can crush any country in a matter of weeks
But it don’t make sense you can’t make peace.
You can make a transfusion that can save a life
Why, you can change the darkness into broad daylight
You can make the deaf man hear and the dumb to speak
But it don’t make sense you can’t make peace.
