I don't claim to be old And I have no desire To get there too soon But this story must be told The blues before my time They tear me down and then They fill my heart and make me whole The blues before my time Most say it's just a sadness But they don't really know How the blues is but a mirror Of the way we live and how we love If it's crying that I'm needing I can do it with the blues Then when I through I'll cry with joy And put on my dancing shoes I've never been downtrodden For fault of being black But those who've gone and left this legacy It's them I'd like to thank I'd like to thank I'd like to thank