Oh, they say some people long, long ago They were searching for a 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 have a thing to lose Now this is how the blues really began They heard the breeze in the trees Singing the weirdest melodies And they played that As a part of the blues Then from a jail came the wail She was an old beat-up thrill But they played that As a part of the blues Then from a whippoorwill High on a hill, they took a new note They shuffled it through a horn 'til it was worn Into a new note And then they nursed it, they rehearsed it And then they sent out the news That the Southland Gave birth to the blues Hey, from that whippoorwill High on a hill, they took a new note They shuffled it through a horn 'til it was worn Into a new note And then they nursed it, yes, they rehearsed it And then they gave out the news That the Southland Gave birth to the blues Oh, that the Southland Gave birth to the blues