I could have been a gambler

'coz I'm good with the cards

I could have been a lover

breakin' other's hearts

and I feel so silly

bettin' on the dice

and a lover seldom sees

the same girl twice



and that is why (that is why)

that's why I chose (that's why I chose)

I chose to sing the blues, yes I did



now, I could have been a doctor

helping the sick

and I could have been a lawyer

but you know that ain't my stick

'coz I feel so bad

if a patient didn't do well

and I feel just as bad

to leave a client in jail



and that is why (that is why)

that's why I chose (that's why I chose)

I chose to sing the blues



(sax solo)



Now a man has a lot

that he could present

just to think I could have been

president

but I can't understand

what politicians say

so I wanna talk to you

in my own little way



and that is why (that is why)

that's why I chose (that's why I chose)

I chose to sing the blues



Yes I did, friends

Don't you know what I mean

I like what I'm doin'

You know, I like the blues

Everybody understands

What I mean when I say

Something like this here

Unnnnnnn-hoo

Yeah

Yeah-hoo

That's what I'm talkin' 'bout when I sing

{fade}