Sound Files

5,000 light years from Birdland

But I'm still preachin' the rhythm

Long-gone, uptight years from Birdland

An' I'm still teachin' it with 'em

Years from the land of the Bird

An' 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-secon' street

Everybody heard that word

That they named it after Bird

Where the rhythm swooped and swirled

The jazz corner of the world

An' 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!

Y' turn me on,

Really, y' turn me aroun'

'N 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 Mo' - No Mo'

Down in Birdland, that's where it was at

I know - I know

Back in them days bop was ridin' high

Hello! 'n 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 o' the cats had the cookin' on

People just sat an' they was steady lookin' on

Then Bird--he came 'n 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

Background Solo:

Come in pairs down them stairs, lose y' cares

Them that dares gits it!

Pay the gate, don't be late

It's a date! - whattay' know

If y' dig, then you'll dig, it's a groove

Quite a groove, 'cause y' t' 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 y' gotta do is lend an ear

An' listen to it

Then y' dig a little sooner than soon

You'll be diggin' everything diggin' all the music

What a ball!

How y' gonna figure out

A way t' bring it all about amid a

Lot o' other music on the set'n on

The scene know what I mean?

How y' gonna separate the music from the scene

'Gonna have t' keep the memory clean

Y' gonna hear a lotta' sound -- a lotta soun'