Track Title: Birdland Album Title: Back On The Block Prime Artist: Quincy Jones Vocal: Ella Fitzgerald Vocal: Sarah Vaughan Producer: Rod Temperton Producer: Quincy Jones Written by: Joseph Zawinul Lyrics: MANHATTAN TRANSFER VERSION: 5,000 light years from Birdland but I'm still preachin' the rhythm, Long-gone uptight years from Birdland and I'm still teachin' 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 Birdland, it happened down in Birdland In the middle of that hub I remember one Jazz club Where we went to pat feet, Down on 52nd street Everybody heard that word and they named it after Bird. Where the rhythm swooped and swirled, the jazz corner of the world And the cats that gigged in there were beyond compare Birdland, I'm singing Birdland Birdland, Ol' swinging Birdland. Hey, man, the music really turns you on! Y' turn me on, Really, y' turn me aroun', `n turn me on Chorus: 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 - yeah Down in Birdland Yeah There may never be nothin' such as that No mo', scooby wah, 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 they 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 in Birdland (yes, he really did) Yes, indeed, he really did (yes he really did) Told the truth way 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 Birdland, it happened down in Birdland Everybody dug that beat, everybody stomped their feet Everybody digs be-bop and they'll never stop CHORUS [words to Janis' "scat" over the chorus at the end]: Come in pairs down them stairs, just lose your cares Them that dares - gits it! Pay the gate, don't be late, it's a date! whatta y' 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' |