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! ~ featured in the 1956 film musical "The Best Things In Life Are Free" Music by Ray Henderson with lyrics by B.G. DeSylva and Lew Brown , 1926 | Album Notes | Large View | With Mitchell Ayres' Orchestra and The Ray Charles Singers Arranged by Joe Lipman Produced by Joe Reisman Recording Engineer: Bob Simpson Recorded February 12 ~ 20 & March 5 ~ 12, 1958 |
| Site Links | All Albums | All Songs | The Recording Sessions |
George Townsend HQV Selekt Group 3 Seaview Avenue Wolfville, Nova Scotia B4P 2G3 Canada Telephone: (902) 698-9848Friday, April 07, 2023
© 2023