Birth Of The Blues
The Rat Pack Lyrics


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Oh, they say some people long ago
Were searching for a different 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 to use
That is how the blues really began
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 worn
Into a blue note
And then they nursed it, rehearsed it




And gave out the news
That the Southland gave birth to the blues!

Overall Meaning

The Rat Pack's song The Birth of the Blues is a song about the origins of the Blues genre. The lyrics describe how long ago, some people were searching for a different tune that they could croon in their own unique style. They only had the rhythm and so they began swaying to and fro, not knowing what to use. Then, they heard the breeze in the trees singing weird melodies and they made that the start of the blues.


The lyrics go on to describe how the down-hearted wail of a frail from a jail became part of the blues. They even took a new note from a whippoorwill out on a hill and pushed it through a horn until it was worn into a blue note. Then, they rehearsed it and gave out the news that the Southland gave birth to the blues. Overall, this song speaks to the history and the creation of a genre of music that has touched and inspired countless artists and listeners.


Line by Line Meaning

Oh, they say some people long ago
Legend has it that there were people a long time ago


Were searching for a different tune
These people were looking for a new kind of music


One that they could croon
A kind of music that they could sing


As only they can
In a way that only they knew how


They only had the rhythm
All they had was a sense of rhythm


So they started swaying to and fro
They began to move their bodies to the rhythm


They didn't know just what to use
They didn't know what instruments to use


That is how the blues really began
And that is how the blues truly started


They heard the breeze in the trees
They heard the sound of the wind in the trees


Singing weird melodies
Creating strange and unusual tunes


And they made that the start of the blues
They used these sounds as the foundation of their new music


And from a jail came the wail
A sad sound came from a prison


Of a down-hearted frail
From a person who had lost all hope


And they played that
They incorporated that sound


As part of the blues
Into their burgeoning style of music


From a whippoorwill
They heard the sound of a bird known as a whippoorwill


Out on a hill
On top of a hill


They took a new note
They discovered a new sound


Pushed it through a horn
They played it using a brass instrument


Til it was worn
Until the sound was well-used


Into a blue note
Until it became known as the blue note


And then they nursed it, rehearsed it
They carefully played and practiced this new sound


And gave out the news
And spread the word


That the Southland gave birth to the blues!
That this new kind of music originated from the southern United States




Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: B.g. Desylva, Lew Brown, Ray Henderson

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@laracroft3718

You can’t fake real friendship. They loved each other. True class 🥰

@u.s.m.c.fewproudthemarines2987

So true friend

@vasilii6417

Yep. Beautiful!

@stuntmanstu1

I didn’t know Johnny Carson could sing. Lol

@mariethompson4237

Pure love.

@byronlippe

P

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@TheSheer96

There was more talent in these 6 minutes than in the last 30 years on radio...

@mikkelbreiler8916

Sad but true.

@philliptarver8197

And any other medium.

@trishlangford5773

So, so right. 😊😊😊😊😊

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