And they made that, the start of the blues
One, that they could croon as only they can
They rehearsed it
They heard the breeze in the trees
And they sent out that news
Until it was worn into a blue note
Singin' weird melodies
And they played that as a part of the blues
This is how the blues really began
And then sent out that news
They nursed it
They only had the rhythm
So they started swayin' to and fro
That the Southland gave birth to the blues
And then they nursed it
They took a new note
Pushed it through a horn
From a whippoorwill way upon a hill
They didn't know just what to use
And from a jail came the wail of a down-hearted frail
Then they rehearsed it
Were searching for a diff'rent tune