Moanin' Lisa Blues

Album: The Simpsons Sing the Blues (1990)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Lisa Simpson performed this song in the first-season Simpsons episode "Moaning Lisa," where she befriends a grizzled bluesman named Bleeding Gums Murphy. Lisa, an 8-year-old saxophone prodigy, writes the song and plays it to treat her case of the blues, which the rest of her family can't understand. Among her complaints: her bratty brother and her uncouth dad. At the end of the episode, Bleeding Gums performs it in a jazz club.
  • A full version of the song was included on the first Simpsons album, The Simpsons Sing The Blues. This version features some very real musicians: Joe Walsh on guitar, John Sebastian of The Lovin' Spoonful on harmonica, and the horn section from Tower Of Power.

    Lisa has all the musical talent in the family but big hits from the album both feature Bart: "Do The Bartman" and "Deep, Deep Trouble." The album ended up selling over 2 million copies.
  • The song was written by the show's writers Al Jean and Mike Reiss along with two musicians, John Boylan and Jai Winding.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Chris Fehn of Slipknot

Chris Fehn of SlipknotSongwriter Interviews

A drummer for one of the most successful metal bands of the last decade, Chris talks about what it's like writing and performing with Slipknot. Metal-neck is a factor.

Todd Rundgren

Todd RundgrenSongwriter Interviews

Todd Rundgren explains why he avoids "Hello It's Me," and what it was like producing Meat Loaf's Bat Out of Hell album.

Steve Cropper (Booker T & the MG's, Blues Brothers)

Steve Cropper (Booker T & the MG's, Blues Brothers)Songwriter Interviews

Steve Cropper on the making of "In the Midnight Hour," the chicken-wire scene in The Blues Brothers, and his 2021 album, Fire It Up.

Corey Hart

Corey HartSongwriter Interviews

The Canadian superstar talks about his sudden rise to fame, and tells the stories behind his hits "Sunglasses At Night," "Boy In The Box" and "Never Surrender."

Have Mercy! It's Wolfman Jack

Have Mercy! It's Wolfman JackSong Writing

The story of the legendary lupine DJ through the songs he inspired.

Producer Ron Nevison

Producer Ron NevisonSong Writing

Ron Nevison explains in very clear terms the Quadrophenia concept and how Heart staged their resurgence after being dropped by their record company.