Buzzard Song
Miles Davis Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Boss, dat bird mean trouble.
Once de buzzard fold his wing an' light over yo' house,
All yo' happiness done dead.
Buzzard keep on flyin' over, take along yo' shadow.

Ain' nobody dead dis mornin'
Livin's jus' begun.
Two is strong where one is feeble;
Man an' woman livin', workin',

Sharin' grief an' sharin' laughter,
An' love like Augus' sun.
Trouble, is dat you over yonder
Lookin' lean an' hungry?

Don' you let dat buzzard keep you
Hangin' round my do'.
Ain' you heard de news this mornin'?
Step out, brudder, hit de gravel;

Porgy who you used to feed on,
Don' live here no mo'
Ha, ha, ha, ha! Buzzard, on yo' way!
Ole age, what is you anyhow,

Nuttin' but bein' lonely.
Pack yo' things an' fly from here,
Carry grief an' pain.
Dere's two folks livin' in dis shelter

Eatin', sleepin', singin', prayin'.
Ain' no such thing as loneliness.
An' Porgy's young again.





Buzzard, keep on flyin',
Porgy's young again.

Overall Meaning

The song Buzzard Song by Miles Davis is a melancholic depiction of the inevitability and intimate relationship between death and life. The first verse sees the bird, the buzzard, as an omen of trouble since it symbolizes death. When it descends upon a person's house, it foreshadows the end of their joy and the beginning of sadness. Moreover, the buzzard continues hovering above the individual, taking away their shadow, a nod towards the death of one's soul. The second stanza, however, is a juxtaposition of death and life. It celebrates the new day, the gift of life, stating that no one has died that morning, and everything is just beginning. It highlights the importance of sharing one's life with another person, someone to experience both happiness and sadness by your side.


The third stanza sees the persona addressing trouble, asking it to leave because Porgy has moved away from the neighborhood. And the last stanza speaks of the possibility of leading a happy and contented life despite this being a world of inevitable loneliness, where old age brings nothing but loneliness and sorrow. It proclaims that two people can choose to live in a loving relationship and find companionship in each other. And though the buzzard keeps flying, a reminder of the inevitability of death, they remain unfazed, and Porgy becomes young again.


Line by Line Meaning

Boss, dat bird mean trouble.
The presence of the buzzard is a sign of something negative to come.


Once de buzzard fold his wing an' light over yo' house, All yo' happiness done dead.
When the buzzard lands on your house, it signals the end of your happiness.


Buzzard keep on flyin' over, take along yo' shadow.
The buzzard's presence casts a shadow over you and follows you wherever you go.


Ain' nobody dead dis mornin' Livin's jus' begun.
No one has died and everyone has a fresh start to the day.


Two is strong where one is feeble; Man an' woman livin', workin'
Two people working together are stronger and more capable than one alone.


Sharin' grief an' sharin' laughter, An' love like Augus' sun.
Sharing both the good and the bad moments brings a bright and warm love, like the sun in August.


Trouble, is dat you over yonder Lookin' lean an' hungry?
Are you, trouble, present but not yet realized, waiting nearby?


Don' you let dat buzzard keep you Hangin' round my do'.
Don't let the negative signs keep you lingering around my home.


Ain' you heard de news this mornin'? Step out, brudder, hit de gravel; Porgy who you used to feed on, Don' live here no mo'
Porgy, who used to be here, has moved away, so it's time for visitors to leave.


Ha, ha, ha, ha! Buzzard, on yo' way!
Laughing as the buzzard departs, leaving behind any negativity it carried.


Ole age, what is you anyhow, Nuttin' but bein' lonely.
What's the point of getting old if you're only going to be lonely?


Pack yo' things an' fly from here, Carry grief an' pain.
Leave and take all your sadness and pain with you.


Dere's two folks livin' in dis shelter Eatin', sleepin', singin', prayin'. Ain' no such thing as loneliness.
Two people live in this shelter, sharing meals, rest, music, and prayers, and loneliness is not present.


An' Porgy's young again. Buzzard, keep on flyin', Porgy's young again.
Porgy has left, but the remaining two have a youthful spirit and are not weighed down by negativity or loneliness.




Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DOROTHY HEYWARD, DU BOSE HEYWARD, GEORGE GERSHWIN, IRA GERSHWIN

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