Instruments
Verse 1
Everybody Wants To Know Why I Sing The Blues
Yes, I Say Everybody Wanna Know Why I Sing The Blues
Well, I've Been Around A Long Time I Really Have Paid My Dues
Verse 2
When I First Got The Blues They Brought Me Over On A Ship
Men Were Standing Over Me And A Lot More With A Whip
And Everybody Wanna Know Why I Sing The Blues
Well, I've Been Around A Long Time Mm, I've Really Paid My Dues
Verse 3
I've Laid In A Ghetto Flat Cold And Numb
I Heard The Rats Tell The Bedbugs To Give The Roaches Some
Everybody Wanna Know Why I'm Singing The Blues
Yes, I've Been Around A Long Time People, I've Paid My Dues
Verse 4
I Stood In Line Down At The County Hall
I Heard A Man Say, "We're Gonna Build Some New Apartments For Y'all"
And Everybody Wanna Know Yes, They Wanna Know Why I'm Singing The Blues
Yes, I've Been Around A Long, Long Time Yes, I've Really, Really Paid My Dues
Verse 5
My Kid's Gonna Grow Up Gonna Grow Up To Be A Fool
'Cause They Ain't Got No More Room No More Room For Him In School
And Everybody Wanna Know Everybody Wanna Know Why I'm Singing The Blues
I Say I've Been Around A Long Time Yes, I've Really Paid Some Dues
Verse 6
Yeah, You Know The Company Told Me Guess You're Born To Lose
Everybody Around Me, People It Seems Like Everybody Got The Blues
But I Had 'Em A Long Time I've Really, Really Paid My Dues
You Know I Ain't Ashamed Of It, People I Just Love To Sing My Blues
Instruments
Verse 7
I Walk Through The Cities, People On My Bare Feet
I Had A Fill Of Catfish And Chitterlings Up And Down Beale Street
You Know I'm Singing The Blues Yes, I Really I Just Have To Sing My Blues
I've Been Around A Long Time People, I've Really, Really Paid My Dues
Verse 8
Now Father Time Is Catching Up With Me Gone Is My Youth
I Look In The Mirror Everyday And Let It Tell Me The Truth
I'm Singing The Blues Mm, I Just Have To Sing The Blues
I've Been Around A Long Time Yes, Yes, I've Really Paid Some Dues
Verse 9
Yeah, They Told Me Everything Would Be Better Out In The Country
Everything Was Fine I Caught Me A Bus Uptown, Baby
And Every People, All The People Got The Same Trouble As Mine I Got The Blues, Huh Huh
I Say I've Been Around A Long Time I've Really Paid Some Dues
Verse 10
Blind Man On The Corner Begging For A Dime
The Rollers Come And Caught Him And Throw Him In The Jail For A Crime
I Got The Blues Mm, I'm Singing My Blues
I've Been Around A Long Time Mm, I've Really Paid Some Dues
Verse 11
Oh I Thought I'd Go Down To The Welfare To Get Myself Some Grits And Stuff
But A Lady Stand Up And She Said "You Haven't Been Around Long Enough"
That's Why I Got The Blues Mm, The Blues
I Say, I've Been Around A Long Time I've Really, Really Paid My Dues
Solo 3
