Basin Street Blues
Bing Crosby feat. Ella Fitzgerald Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Won't you come along with me
To the Mississippi
We'll take a boat to the land of dreams
Steam down the river, down to New Orleans

The band's there to meet us
Old friends there to greet us
Where all the proud and elite folks meet
Heaven on earth, they call it Basin Street

Basin Street is the street
Where the best folks always meet
In New Orleans, land of dreams
You'll never know how nice it seems
Or just how much it really means

Glad to be, oh yes-sire
Where welcome's free and dear to me
Where I can lose, lose my Basin Street Blues

Basin Street, oh Basin Street




Is the street, mama (scat)
New Orleans, land of dreams

Overall Meaning

The lyrics in Basin Street Blues by Bing Crosby feat. Ella Fitzgerald are a call to join them on a journey to Mississippi, where they can take a boat down to New Orleans, the land of dreams. They mention that the band will be there to meet them, and old friends will greet them. They'll be in the company of elite folks and proud people, and they call this place heaven on earth, which they refer to as Basin Street. This street is where the best folks in New Orleans meet, and it represents a place where they feel welcomed and free.


The lyrics of the song exude joy and excitement, as they paint an idyllic picture of New Orleans. The song takes the listener on a journey filled with optimism, happiness, and a sense of belonging. The lyrics communicate the idea of finding a place where one can be themselves truly and feel accepted. Basin Street represents a place of the utmost communal atmosphere, where everyone, regardless of status or race, can be part of the best that New Orleans has to offer.


One interesting fact about this song is that it has been covered numerous times by famous musicians, including Louis Armstrong, Ray Charles, and Louis Prima. The song was first recorded in 1928 by Spencer Williams and quickly became his most famous work. Another fascinating fact is that Basin Street is a real street in New Orleans, which was once known for its jazz clubs and nightlife. The song has since become a classic emblematic of the culture and energy of New Orleans music.


Chords:
Verse: D6, D6, Bm7, Bm7, E9, E9, A7, A7
Chorus: D6, D6, F#m7, F#m7, D6, D6, A7, A7
Bridge: D, D, D7, D7, G, G, E7, E7, A7, A7


Line by Line Meaning

Won't you come along with me
Can you join me, please?


To the Mississippi
Let's go to the Mississippi river


We'll take a boat to the land of dreams
We'll travel by boat to the city of New Orleans, also known as the land of dreams


Steam down the river, down to New Orleans
We'll cruise down the river to New Orleans


The band's there to meet us
A welcoming band will be waiting for us


Old friends there to greet us
We will reunite with old friends


Where all the proud and elite folks meet
The place is where prestigious and sophisticated people gather


Heaven on earth, they call it Basin Street
It is referred to as paradise on earth, known as Basin Street


Basin Street is the street
Basin Street is the notable road in New Orleans


Where the best folks always meet
Where the most refined individuals continuously gather


In New Orleans, land of dreams
The city of New Orleans is the paradise of the world


You'll never know how nice it seems
You'll never know how good it is unless you come


Or just how much it really means
Or just how much of a significance it holds


Glad to be, oh yes-sire
I am thrilled and overjoyed to be there


Where welcome's free and dear to me
I feel valued and respected where I'm cordially greeted without any charges


Where I can lose, lose my Basin Street Blues
The place is where I can forget my worries and depressions


Basin Street, oh Basin Street
Basin Street, oh Basin Street


Is the street, mama (scat)
Which is the street, mama (scat)


New Orleans, land of dreams
New Orleans, land of dreams




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: GREG GIAMPA, MICHAEL NEHRA

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found

More Versions