George Washington Bush
by @riverman
Liner Notes
I wanted to try a historical story-telling song format. This is about the first black pioneer who settled in Washington State in 1844 because he could not stay in Oregon due to "lash laws" and he being a black man. Isabella was his white wife.
Lyrics and phrasing need a lot of work, but I really need to move on. #Storytelling #Folk #acousticonetake #guitar
Lyrics
Chorus Isabella, these wagon wheels, they roll and they turn But my home is still far away A man wants to live in a place that is home Anywhere he's welcome to stay They tell me that I am not one of them But I just want a place to stay
Verse 1 After 4 months of toil on the trail Leading five other families We all turned north at the Oregon border Because they don't like what they see
Under threat of lashing for being a black man We stayed on the trail for 8 weeks Found a place we settled on near the Puget Sound Started farming between the river and the creeks
Chorus
Verse 3 We grew grains and fruit on Bush Prairie Farmland that was named after me Helping any families heading through With a place to stay, water and wheat
When Washington became a territory It wasn't legal for me to own my land But the legislature met and they all agreed To let our property claim stand
Chorus
Comments
![[avatar]](https://fawm-avatars.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/fawm2025/5afb4dca-1c0d-4d1d-ad2b-dfb136e6a37c.png){kind=avatar}
This feels to me like an old traditional American story song. Even the pace and cadence implies travelling somewhere in a horse-pulled carriage. The production with just voice and guitar is perfect for the song. Sounds really nice. Compelling chorus too.
![[avatar]](https://fawm-avatars.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/fawm2025/d9aa70b2-7df5-4f73-81ea-b3bc78491bea.png){kind=avatar}
I love story songs! Thanks for taking me on a ride back to 1844!
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I like what you've done with the lyrics. musically and vocally -- very nice storytelling style. The opening lines are a good lead-in to the story. I enjoyed listening.
![[avatar]](https://fawm-avatars.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/fawm2025/69086933-644e-4389-a3c3-a7b9175779bc.png){kind=avatar}
Your guitar sounds like those waggon wheels rolling and turning! The lyrics point out the insecurity of planing a life because your skin gots the „wrong“ colour!
![[FAWM]](/static/img/ukulelecorn.svg)
![[avatar]](https://fawm-avatars.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/fawm2024/e0cb5d99-fae3-4833-a688-0217f210afe9.png){kind=avatar}
![[avatar]](https://fawm-avatars.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/fawm2026/b23894a9-78c3-44e9-8aff-b88e60fd465a.png){kind=avatar}
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This song has great potential. I agree that the lyrical phrasing at times feels a little busy, but the overall feel of the music and the melody is really good. Reminds me of the Deep Dark Woods a little bit. Always good to hear a story-telling song. Well done.