Birdland
5,000 light years from Birdland
But I'm still preaching the rhythm
Long-gone, uptight years from Birdland
And I'm still teaching it with 'em
Years from the land of the Bird
And I am still feelin' the spirit
5,000 light years from Birdland
But I know people can hear it
Bird named it, Bird made it, Bird heard it, then played it
Well-stated! Birdland--
It happened down in Birdland
Oh!
In the middle of that hub
I remember one jazz club
Where we went to pat feet
Down on fifty-second street
Everybody heard that word
That they named it after Bird
Where the rhythm swooped and swirled
The jazz corner of the world
And the cats they gigged in there
Were beyond compare
Birdland - I'm singin' Birdland
Birdland - Ol' swingin' Birdland
Hey, man, the music really turns you on!
You turn me on
Really, you turn me around
And turn me on
Down them stairs, lose them cares - where?
Down in Birdland
Total swing, bop was king - there
Down in Birdland
Bird would cook, Max would look - where?
Down in Birdland
Miles came through, 'Trane came too - there
Down in Birdland
Basie blew, Blakey too - where?
Down in Birdland
Cannonball played that hall - there
Down in Birdland
Yeah---
There may never be nothin' such as that
No More - No More
Down in Birdland, that's where it was at
I know - I know
Back in them days bop was ridin' high
Hello! and goodbye!
How well those cats remember
Their first Birdland gig
To play in Birdland is an honor we still dig
Yeah---that club was like--
In another world, sure enough--
Yeah, baby
All of the cats had the cooking on
People just sat an' they was steady looking on
Then Bird--he came and spread the word--
Birdland
Yes, indeed, he did
Yes, indeed, he did
Yes, indeed, he did
Yes, he did, Parker played at Birdland
Yes, he really did
Yes, indeed, he really did
Yes, he really did
Told the truth down in Birdland
Yes, indeed he did, Yardbird Parker played in
Birdland
Yes, indeed, he really did
Charlie Parker played in Birdland
Bird named it, Bird made it, Bird heard it
Then played it
Well-stated! Birdland
It happened down in Birdland
Everybody dug that beat
Everybody stomped their feet
Everybody digs be-bop
An' they'll never stop
Down them stairs, lose them cares - yeah!
Down in Birdland
Total swing! bop was king - yeah!
Down in Birdland
Bird would cook, Max would look - yeah
Down in Birdland
Miles came through, 'Trane came too - yeah!
Down in Birdland
Basie blew, Blakey too - yeah!
Down in Birdland
Cannonball played that hall - yeah
Down in Birdland
Down them stairs, lose them cares - yeah
Down in Birdland
Total swing! bop was king - yeah
Down in Birdland
Bird would cook, Max would look - yeah
Down in Birdland
Miles came through, 'Trane came too - yeah!
Down in Birdland
Basie blew, Blakey too - yeah!
Down in Birdland
Cannonball played that hall - yeah
Down in Birdland
Down them stairs, lose y' cares -yeah
Down in Birdland
Total swing! bop was king - yeah
Down in Birdland
Bird would cook, Max would look - yeah
Down in Birdland
Come in pairs down them stairs, lose your cares
Them that dares gets it!
Pay the gate, don't be late
It's a date! - what do you know
If you dig, then you'll dig, it's a groove
Quite a groove, 'cause you to move
Come in twos, pay your dues
What can you lose?
Just your blues!
So lose them!
The band swingin' one and all and what a ball!
Yeah!
Music is good, music is better than good
Pretty good
Very nice
Really very good - things are bein' like they should
Very good -- very good -- very good
All you gotta do is lend an ear
And listen to it
Then you dig a little sooner than soon
You'll be diggin' everything diggin' all the music
What a ball!
How you gonna figure out
A way to bring it all about amid a
Lot of other music on the set'n on
The scene know what I mean?
How you gonna separate the music from the scene
'Gonna have to keep the memory clean
You gonna hear a lotta' sound -- a lotta sound
Written by Joe Zawinul & Jon Hendricks