Ash Grunwald is an Australian blues musician.

While it’s true that h… Read Full Bio ↴Ash Grunwald is an Australian blues musician.

While it’s true that his music is steeped in the Delta blues tradition of the legendary acoustic musicians who proliferated in pre-World War II America’s deep South and the giants of electric blues who shaped rock and roll, it’s the young Victorian’s willingness to combine these influences with grooves and sounds common in contemporary music that sets him apart.

A soulful singer and guitar player, Grunwald immediately drew attention with the release of 2002’s ‘Introducing … Ash Grunwald’ a collection of originals and blues standards that included ‘Smokestack Lightnin’ (Howlin’ Wolf) ‘The Sky Is Crying’ (Elmore James), and ‘Rolling and Tumbling’ (Robert Johnson) recorded live with only acoustic guitar and foot percussion consisting of a stomp box and tambourine.

The positive response to Grunwald’s debut resulted in two Victorian Blues awards for Emerging Talent and Album of the Year.

The following year he scored two Australian Blues awards for Male Vocalist of the Year and Best New Talent in addition to the MBAS’ Blues Performer of the Year. He also reached the final of the International Blues Performer of the Year in Memphis.

In 2004 Grunwald released his follow up album, I Don’t Believe, once again recorded solo and live.

Since his initial release he’d been made aware of two Tom Waits albums, Swordfishtrombones and Bone Machine. In a daring move he emulated Waits’ experimental bang and clang percussion using hammers, spanners, pots, etc, in addition to a boss loop station as a bed for his lap steel, dobro, and acoustic guitars.

The album included six originals, two of Waits’ compositions, "Going out West" and "Jesus Gonna Be Here" (a-cappella with handclaps) and blues standards "Walking Blues" and "Cross Roads" (Robert Johnson), "Empire State" (Son House), and "How Many More Years" (Howlin’ Wolf).

On the strength of this release Ash won an ARIA award nomination for Best Blues And Roots Album, and the Victorian Blues award for Male Vocalist Of The Year (equal with Lloyd Spiegel) and in 2005 the MBAS Vic / Tas award for Solo / Duo Of The Year (equal with Dave Hogan).

For the ‘Live At The Corner’ album (songs from his first two releases plus Willie Dixon’s ‘Spoonful’ featuring Ian Collard on harmonica) Ash won the 2005 MBAS Vic / Tas and Australian Blues award’s Album Of The Year in addition to being nominated once again for the Best Blues And Roots album at the ARIA’s.

Ash has built a substantial following performing at countless live venues around the country and at major festivals including Byron Bay, Port Fairy, Falls, Apollo Bay, Fremantle, Cockatoo Island and Margaret River.

In May 2005, Ash was invited to take over the reins as host of Triple J’s popular Thursday night show Roots ‘N All.

Ash Grunwald continues to forge his own identity with the release of twelve original songs on album number four, ‘Give Signs’ recorded on his own label Delta Groove Records. As usual it will be live and solo. And as usual, it is another terrific offering from this talented performer.

Walking Blues
Ash Grunwald Lyrics

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Duet!
Hutchence: Everybody shake,
Barnes: Now everybody groove,
Hutchence: Everybody shake,
Barnes: Oooooh,
Hutchence: Mary, Mary you're on my mind,
The folks are gone and the place will be mine,
Mary, Mary I wanna be with you,

And this is what I'm gonna do,
I'm wanna put a call to you,
'Cause I feel good tonight,
And everything is gonna be right, right, right, right
Together: I'm gonna have a good time tonight,
Rock and roll music gonna play all night,
Come on baby it won't take long,
Only take a minute just to sing my song,
Barnes: Boney Maroney's gonna be with Jim,
I said, long, tall Sally's gonna be with Slim,
Short, fat Fanny's gonna be, she's gonna be there too,
And this is what I'm gonna do,
Well, I've got to put a call to you,
'Cause I feel good tonight,
And everything's gonna be right, right, right.
Together: I'm gonna have a good time tonight,
Rock and roll music gonna play all night,
Come on baby it won't take long,
Only take a minute just to sing my song,
Hutchence: Oooho
Barnes: OOW, I gotta talk to you
Instrumental
Hutchence: Boney Maroney's gonna be with Jim,
Barnes: Long, tall Sally's gonna be with him,
Hutchence: Short, fat Fanny's gonna be, she's gonna be there too,
Together: And this is what I'm gonna do,
I've got to put a call to you,
'Cause I feel good tonight,
And everything's gonna be right, right, right.
'm gonna have a good time tonight,
Rock and roll music gonna play all night,
Come on baby it won't take long,
Only take a minute just to sing my song.
Barnes: Listen
Hutchence: Aaahhaaa
Together: I'm gonna have a good time tonight,
Rock and roll music gonna play all night,
Come on baby it won't take long,
Only take a minute just to sing my song,
I'm gonna have a good time tonight,
Rock and roll music gonna play all night,
Come on baby it won't take long,
Only take a minute just to sing my song,
I'm gonna have a good time tonight,
Rock and roll music gonna play all night,
Come on baby it won't take long,
Only take a minute just to sing my song.

In loving memory of the good times of Michael Hutchence

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Walking Blues" by Ash Grunwald featuring Michael Hutchence and Jimmy Barnes are an upbeat track that talks about having a good time with rock and roll music. The song opens with Hutchence and Barnes alternating vocals, urging everyone to shake and groove. Hutchence sings about Mary being on his mind, and he wants to be with her. He plans to call her to let her know that he feels good tonight and everything is going to be right. The chorus is a call to have a good time, with rock and roll music playing all night. Barnes sings about Boney Maroney being with Jim, Long Tall Sally being with Slim, and Short, Fat Fanny being there too. He also plans to call someone and let them know that everything is going to be right. The track ends with upbeat vocals and instruments.

The song is a classic tribute to rock and roll music and the good times it can bring. The lyrics are straightforward and easy to understand, emphasizing the importance of having a good time with friends and music. Despite being a simple track, the combination of Hutchence and Barnes' vocals adds depth to the song.

Contributed by Jayce R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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