Birth of the Blues

                                  Oh, they say some people long ago

Were searching for a different 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 know just what to use

That is how the blues really began

They heard the breeze in the trees

Singing 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 a hill

They took a new note

Pushed it through a horn

'Til it was worn

Into a blue note

And then they nursed it, rehearsed it

And gave out the news

That the Southland gave birth to the blues!