The Birth of the Blues
Chet Atkins Lyrics
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Were searching for a diff'rent tune
One that they could croon
As only they can
They only had the rhythm so
They started swaying to and fro
They didn't know just what they had
They heard the breeze in the trees
Singing 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 a hill
They took a new note
Pushed it through a horn
'til it was born into a blue note
And then they nursed it, rehearsed it
And gave out the news
That the southland
Gave birth to the blues!
The song "Birth of the Blues" by Chet Atkins and Les Paul is a celebration of the origins of a musical genre that has had a profound impact on American culture. The lyrics tell the story of how the blues came into existence, tracing its roots back to a time when people were searching for a new kind of music to express their feelings. The song acknowledges the influence of nature, specifically the sound of the wind in the trees and the call of the whippoorwill, which provided the raw material for the first blues melodies. But it also highlights the human element, noting that it was a downhearted person in jail who added the signature wail to the emerging sound. Above all, the song celebrates the power of music to bring people together and to give voice to the feelings that are often difficult to express.
Overall, "Birth of the Blues" is a song that transcends its subject matter to become a meditation on the nature of creativity itself. It recognizes that all music, like all art, is the result of a process of discovery and experimentation, and that the best creations often emerge from unexpected sources. Ultimately, it is a song that calls on us to appreciate the power and beauty of the blues, and to recognize it as one of the defining cultural forms of our time.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh! they say some people long ago
According to popular belief, there were individuals from long ago
Were searching for a diff'rent tune
These individuals were looking for a unique melody
One that they could croon
A tune which they could sing in a low, soft voice
As only they can
In a style that was exclusively theirs
They only had the rhythm so
They lacked the melody, so they only had the beat
They started swaying to and fro
They began moving their body back and forth to the rhythm
They didn't know just what they had
They were unaware of the significance of what they were creating
And that is how the blues really began
This was the origin of the music genre known as the blues
They heard the breeze in the trees
They listened to the sound of the wind blowing through the trees
Singing weird melodies
Producing unusual, unaccustomed tunes
And they made that
They used this as the foundation of the new style of music
The start of the blues
Which eventually became the blues
And from a jail came the wail
The sound of the music originated from inside a prison
Of a down hearted frail
A sad and melancholic person
And they played that
They incorporated this sorrowful cry in their music
As part of the blues
So that it became a component of the blues style
From a whippoorwill out on a hill
Inspiration for a new sound came from a bird known as a whippoorwill situated on top of a hill
They took a new note
They discovered a unique tune
Pushed it through a horn
They amplified the sound through a trumpet
'til it was born into a blue note
After processing the sound, they transformed it into what is now known as a blue note
And then they nursed it, rehearsed it
They took care of the new sound and practiced it extensively
And gave out the news
And then they spread the word about their new music genre
That the southland
The southern regions of the United States
Gave birth to the blues!
Was responsible for the creation of the blues genre of music
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: B.g. Desylva, Lew Brown, Ray Henderson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@missycake1
Just beautiful. I can see my dad sitting in the living room playing his guitar every night after supper. He was great too....just not famous.
@MsCatreona
This is the definition of music, or maybe of Heaven. Thank you so much for posting!
@pattykake19
Beautiful. I love all of this wonderful music. Thanks so much for posting. Daffydoug, you are a music genius. Love you.
@donsainty8239
Long time since I heard these guys, just brings back a long time ago memory, thanks for posting this
@pablo1079
Had to add this to the country and rock playlist!!! Great stuff!!
@johnbrothers2166
Two of the best.
@avratt
This is guitar heaven
@sniperalta13
2:01-2:10 almost gave me an out of body experience. really classy.It's not how fast the notes in the guitar, what matters is how you play it and that 10 seconds would be one of my favorite notes. *hands down to the masters
@collette333
PURE MAGIC....
@aleksanderdobrowolski8819
amazing !!!love blues like this !!!!!!!!