INTRO:

These are the blues

Nothin' but blues



Oh, they say some people long ago

Were searching 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, this 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 a part of the blues



From a whippoorwill way upon a hill they took a new note

Pushed it through a horn until it was worn into a blue note

And then they nursed it, they rehearsed it and then sent out that news

That the Southland gave birth to the blues



They nursed it, then they rehearsed it, and they sent out that news

That the Southland, they gave birth to the blues