Ohh, they say some people long ago   Were searchin' for a diff'rent tune   One that they could croon   As only they can      They only had the rhythm, so   They started swayin' 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   Singin' weird melodies   And they made that   The start of the blues      And from a jail, came the wail   Of the down-hearted frail   And they played that   As part of the blues      From a whippoorwill   Out on the hill   They took a new note   (Whippoorwill, whippoorwill, whippoorwill)      Pushed it through a horn   'Til it was worn   Into a blue note   (Whippoorwill, whippoorwill, whippoorwill)      An' then they nursed it and rehearsed it   And gave out the news   That the 'Southland'   Gave birth to the blues   (Shout out the wonderful news)      Oh, the breeze from the trees   Wail from the jail   A buzz from the cousin   Of a nightin'gale      And 'Southland'   (Hello, hello)   Gave birth to the blues