The Birth Of The Blues

Randy Travis

Written by Buddy DeSylva, Lew Brown, Ray Henderson

Key of G · Chords: I II IV V VI VII ii vii

Verse 1

G7                           D7
Oh they say some people long ago
C                              G7
Were searching for a different tune
                                      C
One that they could croon as only they can

Verse 2

     D7    G7  C             Am
They heard the breeze in the trees
D7            C
Singing weird melodies
F        C         G7               C
And they made that the start of the blues

Verse 3

    D7   G7 C            Am
And from a jail came the wail
D7   C    E7      F
Of a down hearted frail
D7       G7                         C     Fm  C
And they played that as part of the blues

Verse 4

               E7
From a whippoorwill way up on the hill
They took a new note
                    A7
Pushed it through a horn
                 Am     D7   G7
Till it was worn into a blue note

Verse 5

D7   G7   C           Am        D7
Then they nursed it rehearsed it
    C         E7      F
And they sent out the news
D7       G7                          C
That the Southland gave birth to the blues
Repeat last verse