Birth of the Blues

Oh, they say some people long, long ago

They were searching for a tune

One that they could croon as only they can

They only had the rhythm so

They started swaying to and fro

They didn't have a thing to lose

Now this is how the blues really began

They heard the breeze in the trees

Singing the weirdest melodies

And they played that

As a part of the blues

Then from a jail came the wail

She was an old beat-up thrill

But they played that

As a part of the blues

Then from a whippoorwill

High on a hill, they took a new note

They shuffled it through a horn 'til it was worn

Into a new note

And then they nursed it, they rehearsed it

And then they sent out the news

That the Southland

Gave birth to the blues

Hey, from that whippoorwill

High on a hill, they took a new note

They shuffled it through a horn 'til it was worn

Into a new note

And then they nursed it, yes, they rehearsed it

And then they gave out the news

That the Southland

Gave birth to the blues

Oh, that the Southland

Gave birth to the blues