Done found out friends won’t do.[12]
All I hope in this bright worl’,
If I love anybody, don’t let it be a girl.[13]
[ [8] The Negro and His Songs, p. 184.
[ [9] Ibid., p. 185.
[10] Ibid., p. 224.
[11] Ibid., p. 222.
[12] Ibid., p. 250.
[13] Ibid., p. 181.
A third characteristic of the blues is the expression of self pity.[14] Often this is the outstanding feature of the song. There seems to be a tendency for the despondent or blue singer to use the technique of the martyr to draw from others a reaction of sympathy. Psychologically speaking, the technique consists of rationalization, by which process the singer not only excuses his shortcomings, but attracts the attention and sympathy of others—in imagination, at least—to his hard lot. The following expressions will make the point clear.[15]