Birth of the Blues

Oh. .. they say some people long ago
Were searchin' for a diff’rent tune
One that they could croon
As only they can. .
They only had the rhythm. .. so
They started swayin' to and fro. .
They didn’t know just what to use
That is how the blues
Really began. .
They heard the breeze in the trees
Singin' weird melodies
And they made that
The start of the blues!
And from a jail came the wail
Of a down-hearted frail
And they played that
As part of the blues!
From a whippoorwill out on the hill
They took a new note (whippoorwill, whippoorwill, whippoorwill. . .)
Pushed it through a horn 'till it was worn
Into a blue note. .. (whippoorwill, whippoorwill, whippoorwill. . .)
An' then they nursed it, and rehearsed it
And gave out the news
That the «Southland». .
Gave birth to the blues!
(Shout out the wonderful news!)
Oh, the breeze from the trees
A wail from the jail
A buzz from the cousin of a nightin’gale
And «Southland» (hello, hello!)
Gave birth to the blues!
Music by Ray Henderson