Sammy Davis Jr.

Free and easy, that's my style
Howdy-do me, watch me smile
Fare-thee-well me after a while
'Cause I gotta roam
And any place I hang my hat is home

Sweetenin' water, cherry wine
Thank you kindly, suits me fine
Kansas City, Caroline
That's my honeycomb
'Cause any place I hang my hat is home

Birds roostin' in a tree
Pick up and go, and the goin' proves
That's how it oughta be
I pick up too when the spirit moves me
(I go where it behoves me)
Cross the river, 'round the bend
"Hello stranger!", "So long friend!"
There's a voice in the lonesome wind
That keeps whisp'ring, "Roam!"
I'm going where a welcome mat is
No matter where that is
'Cause any place I hang my hat is home

Oh,... they say my people long ago.
Where lookin' for a different tune.
One that we can croon
As only we can.
We only had the rhythm.
So, we started swingin' to and fro.
We didn't know just what to use.
But this is how the blues.
I said the blues really began.
Ohhh yeah.

We..heard... the breeze.
Through the trees.
Singing weird melodies.
And we named that the start of the blues.

Then from a jail.
There came a whale.
From a down-hearted frail.
And we played that.
To be a part of our blues.

From a whippoorwill
High on a hill.
They took a new note.
Pushed it through a horn.
Till it was worn into a blue note.

You better believed me we nursed it.
And we rehearsed it.
Than we gave out the news.
That the South Land, gave birth to the Blues.

Oh,... they say my people long ago.
Where lookin' for a different tune.
One that we can croon
As only we can.
We only had the rhythm.
So, we started swingin' to and fro.
We didn't know just what to use.
But this is how the blues.
I said the blues really began.
Ohhh yeah.

We..heard... the breeze.
Through the trees.
Singing weird melodies.
And we named that the start of the blues.

Then from a jail.
There came a whale.
From a down-hearted frail.
And we played that.
To be a part of our blues.

From a whippoorwill
High on a hill.
They took a new note.
Pushed it through a horn.
Till it was worn into a blue note.

You better believed me we nursed it.
And we rehearsed it.
Than we gave out the news.
That the South Land, gave birth to the Blues.

Oh,... they say my people long ago.
Where lookin' for a different tune.
One that we can croon
As only we can.
We only had the rhythm.
So, we started swingin' to and fro.
We didn't know just what to use.
But this is how the blues.
I said the blues really began.
Ohhh yeah.

We..heard... the breeze.
Through the trees.
Singing weird melodies.
And we named that the start of the blues.

Then from a jail.
There came a whale.
From a down-hearted frail.
And we played that.
To be a part of our blues.

From a whippoorwill
High on a hill.
They took a new note.
Pushed it through a horn.
Till it was worn into a blue note.

You better believed me we nursed it.
And we rehearsed it.
Than we gave out the news.
That the South Land, gave birth to the Blues.

Oh,... they say my people long ago.
Where lookin' for a different tune.
One that we can croon
As only we can.
We only had the rhythm.
So, we started swingin' to and fro.
We didn't know just what to use.
But this is how the blues.
I said the blues really began.
Ohhh yeah.

We..heard... the breeze.
Through the trees.
Singing weird melodies.
And we named that the start of the blues.

Then from a jail.
There came a whale.
From a down-hearted frail.
And we played that.
To be a part of our blues.

From a whippoorwill
High on a hill.
They took a new note.
Pushed it through a horn.
Till it was worn into a blue note.

You better believed me we nursed it.
And we rehearsed it.
Than we gave out the news.
That the South Land, gave birth to the Blues.

Oh,... they say my people long ago.
Where lookin' for a different tune.
One that we can croon
As only we can.
We only had the rhythm.
So, we started swingin' to and fro.
We didn't know just what to use.
But this is how the blues.
I said the blues really began.
Ohhh yeah.

We..heard... the breeze.
Through the trees.
Singing weird melodies.
And we named that the start of the blues.

Then from a jail.
There came a whale.
From a down-hearted frail.
And we played that.
To be a part of our blues.

From a whippoorwill
High on a hill.
They took a new note.
Pushed it through a horn.
Till it was worn into a blue note.

You better believed me we nursed it.
And we rehearsed it.
Than we gave out the news.
That the South Land, gave birth to the Blues.

Oh,... they say my people long ago.
Where lookin' for a different tune.
One that we can croon
As only we can.
We only had the rhythm.
So, we started swingin' to and fro.
We didn't know just what to use.
But this is how the blues.
I said the blues really began.
Ohhh yeah.

We..heard... the breeze.
Through the trees.
Singing weird melodies.
And we named that the start of the blues.

Then from a jail.
There came a whale.
From a down-hearted frail.
And we played that.
To be a part of our blues.

From a whippoorwill
High on a hill.
They took a new note.
Pushed it through a horn.
Till it was worn into a blue note.

You better believed me we nursed it.
And we rehearsed it.
Than we gave out the news.
That the South Land, gave birth to the Blues.

Oh,... they say my people long ago.
Where lookin' for a different tune.
One that we can croon
As only we can.
We only had the rhythm.
So, we started swingin' to and fro.
We didn't know just what to use.
But this is how the blues.
I said the blues really began.
Ohhh yeah.

We..heard... the breeze.
Through the trees.
Singing weird melodies.
And we named that the start of the blues.

Then from a jail.
There came a whale.
From a down-hearted frail.
And we played that.
To be a part of our blues.

From a whippoorwill
High on a hill.
They took a new note.
Pushed it through a horn.
Till it was worn into a blue note.

You better believed me we nursed it.
And we rehearsed it.
Than we gave out the news.
That the South Land, gave birth to the Blues.

Oh,... they say my people long ago.
Where lookin' for a different tune.
One that we can croon
As only we can.
We only had the rhythm.
So, we started swingin' to and fro.
We didn't know just what to use.
But this is how the blues.
I said the blues really began.
Ohhh yeah.

We..heard... the breeze.
Through the trees.
Singing weird melodies.
And we named that the start of the blues.

Then from a jail.
There came a whale.
From a down-hearted frail.
And we played that.
To be a part of our blues.

From a whippoorwill
High on a hill.
They took a new note.
Pushed it through a horn.
Till it was worn into a blue note.

You better believed me we nursed it.
And we rehearsed it.
Than we gave out the news.
That the South Land, gave birth to the Blues.

Pack up all my care and woe
Here I go, singing low
Bye bye blackbird
Where somebody waits for me
Sugar's sweet, so is she
Bye bye blackbird
No one here can love or understand me
Oh what hard luck stories they all hand me
Make my bed and light the light
I'll arrive late tonight
Blackbird, bye bye


Bye bye blackbird

Bye bye blackbird

No one here can love or understand me
Oh, oh what hard luck stories they all hand me
Make my bed and light the light
I'll arrive late tonight
Blackbird, Blackbird , Blackbird bye bye

Goodbye, blackbird
I'm gonna miss ya
I'm gonna miss ya, Blackbird
Ya hear dat?
I'm gonna follow you soon
Wherever you go, why I'll follow you
There's someone waiting out there for me, where you're leading
I can see you flappin' your wings now
You're calling me
I hear you calling me
I hear ya! I hear ya!
I'm coming! I'm coming!
I'm almost here
She's there waiting for me
Oh, how wonderful she looks
Oh how marvelous, blackbird
Here! Here!
Flap your wings, flap 'em! Flap 'em! Whistle to me!

Pack up all my care and woe
Here I go, singing low
Bye bye blackbird
Where somebody waits for me
Sugar's sweet, so is she
Bye bye blackbird
No one here can love or understand me
Oh what hard luck stories they all hand me
Make my bed and light the light
I'll arrive late tonight
Blackbird, bye bye


Bye bye blackbird

Bye bye blackbird

No one here can love or understand me
Oh, oh what hard luck stories they all hand me
Make my bed and light the light
I'll arrive late tonight
Blackbird, Blackbird , Blackbird bye bye

Goodbye, blackbird
I'm gonna miss ya
I'm gonna miss ya, Blackbird
Ya hear dat?
I'm gonna follow you soon
Wherever you go, why I'll follow you
There's someone waiting out there for me, where you're leading
I can see you flappin' your wings now
You're calling me
I hear you calling me
I hear ya! I hear ya!
I'm coming! I'm coming!
I'm almost here
She's there waiting for me
Oh, how wonderful she looks
Oh how marvelous, blackbird
Here! Here!
Flap your wings, flap 'em! Flap 'em! Whistle to me!

Pack up all my care and woe
Here I go, singing low
Bye bye blackbird
Where somebody waits for me
Sugar's sweet, so is she
Bye bye blackbird
No one here can love or understand me
Oh what hard luck stories they all hand me
Make my bed and light the light
I'll arrive late tonight
Blackbird, bye bye


Bye bye blackbird

Bye bye blackbird

No one here can love or understand me
Oh, oh what hard luck stories they all hand me
Make my bed and light the light
I'll arrive late tonight
Blackbird, Blackbird , Blackbird bye bye

Goodbye, blackbird
I'm gonna miss ya
I'm gonna miss ya, Blackbird
Ya hear dat?
I'm gonna follow you soon
Wherever you go, why I'll follow you
There's someone waiting out there for me, where you're leading
I can see you flappin' your wings now
You're calling me
I hear you calling me
I hear ya! I hear ya!
I'm coming! I'm coming!
I'm almost here
She's there waiting for me
Oh, how wonderful she looks
Oh how marvelous, blackbird
Here! Here!
Flap your wings, flap 'em! Flap 'em! Whistle to me!

Pack up all my care and woe
Here I go, singing low
Bye bye blackbird
Where somebody waits for me
Sugar's sweet, so is she
Bye bye blackbird
No one here can love or understand me
Oh what hard luck stories they all hand me
Make my bed and light the light
I'll arrive late tonight
Blackbird, bye bye


Bye bye blackbird

Bye bye blackbird

No one here can love or understand me
Oh, oh what hard luck stories they all hand me
Make my bed and light the light
I'll arrive late tonight
Blackbird, Blackbird , Blackbird bye bye

Goodbye, blackbird
I'm gonna miss ya
I'm gonna miss ya, Blackbird
Ya hear dat?
I'm gonna follow you soon
Wherever you go, why I'll follow you
There's someone waiting out there for me, where you're leading
I can see you flappin' your wings now
You're calling me
I hear you calling me
I hear ya! I hear ya!
I'm coming! I'm coming!
I'm almost here
She's there waiting for me
Oh, how wonderful she looks
Oh how marvelous, blackbird
Here! Here!
Flap your wings, flap 'em! Flap 'em! Whistle to me!

I got the surprise, the surprise of my life
I had to stop and stare
I saw a man dancing with his own wife
And you'll never guess where

Chicago, Chicago, that toddlin' town, that toddlin' town
Chicago, Chicago, I'll show you around, I love it
Betcha bottom dollar you'll lose your blues
In Chicago, Chicago
The town that Billy Sunday could not shut down

On State Street, that great street
I just want to stay, I just want to stay
They do things they don't do on Broadway, say
They have the time, the time of their life

I saw a man who danced with his wife
In Chicago, Chicago, Chicago, Chicago
Free and easy town, brassy, breezy town
Chicago, Chicago

Let me cool my heels right down at Marshall Field
Come and walk with
Along the lake, to the drake
Hollar and hoot, all through the loop

Shout out now to Mrs. O'Leary's cow
No she-she, life is peachy
Chicago, we'll meet at the Pump Room Ambassador East
To say the least

On shishkabob and breast of squab we will feed and get free
Don't tell me sin is rampid and right
Think of that man who danced with his wife
In Chicago, Chicago

I feel sympathy for that wonderful, windy town!

If I should write a book for you
That brought me fame and fortune too,
That book would be,
Like my heart and me,
Dedicated to you.

And if I should paint a picture too
That showed the loveliness of you,
My art would be,
Like my heart and me,
Dedicated to you.

To you,
Because your love is the beacon that lights up my way.
To you,
Because with you I know a lifetime could be just one heavenly day.

If I should find a twinkling star,
One half as wondrous as you are,
That star would be
Like my heart and me,
Dedicated to you.

To you,
Because your love is the beacon that lights up my way.
To you,
Because with you I know a lifetime could be just one heavenly day.

If I should find a twinkling star,
One half as wondrous as you are,
That star would be
Like my heart and me,
Dedicated to you.

If I should write a book for you
That brought me fame and fortune too,
That book would be,
Like my heart and me,
Dedicated to you.

And if I should paint a picture too
That showed the loveliness of you,
My art would be,
Like my heart and me,
Dedicated to you.

To you,
Because your love is the beacon that lights up my way.
To you,
Because with you I know a lifetime could be just one heavenly day.

If I should find a twinkling star,
One half as wondrous as you are,
That star would be
Like my heart and me,
Dedicated to you.

To you,
Because your love is the beacon that lights up my way.
To you,
Because with you I know a lifetime could be just one heavenly day.

If I should find a twinkling star,
One half as wondrous as you are,
That star would be
Like my heart and me,
Dedicated to you.

I know too well that I'm just wasting precious time
In thinking such a thing could be
That you could ever care for me
I'm sure you hate to hear

That I adore you, dear
But grant me
Just the same
I'm not entirely to blame

For love
You'd be so easy to love
So easy to idolize
All others above

So worth the yearning for
So swell to keep every homefire burning for
We'd be so grand at the game
So carefree together

That it does seem a shame
That you can't see
Your future with me
'Cause you'd be oh, so easy to love

I know too well that I'm just wasting precious time
In thinking such a thing could be
That you could ever care for me
I'm sure you hate to hear

That I adore you, dear
But grant me
Just the same
I'm not entirely to blame

For love
You'd be so easy to love
So easy to idolize
All others above

So worth the yearning for
So swell to keep every homefire burning for
We'd be so grand at the game
So carefree together

That it does seem a shame
That you can't see
Your future with me
'Cause you'd be oh, so easy to love

I know too well that I'm just wasting precious time
In thinking such a thing could be
That you could ever care for me
I'm sure you hate to hear

That I adore you, dear
But grant me
Just the same
I'm not entirely to blame

For love
You'd be so easy to love
So easy to idolize
All others above

So worth the yearning for
So swell to keep every homefire burning for
We'd be so grand at the game
So carefree together

That it does seem a shame
That you can't see
Your future with me
'Cause you'd be oh, so easy to love

I know too well that I'm just wasting precious time
In thinking such a thing could be
That you could ever care for me
I'm sure you hate to hear

That I adore you, dear
But grant me
Just the same
I'm not entirely to blame

For love
You'd be so easy to love
So easy to idolize
All others above

So worth the yearning for
So swell to keep every homefire burning for
We'd be so grand at the game
So carefree together

That it does seem a shame
That you can't see
Your future with me
'Cause you'd be oh, so easy to love

I know too well that I'm just wasting precious time
In thinking such a thing could be
That you could ever care for me
I'm sure you hate to hear

That I adore you, dear
But grant me
Just the same
I'm not entirely to blame

For love
You'd be so easy to love
So easy to idolize
All others above

So worth the yearning for
So swell to keep every homefire burning for
We'd be so grand at the game
So carefree together

That it does seem a shame
That you can't see
Your future with me
'Cause you'd be oh, so easy to love

I know too well that I'm just wasting precious time
In thinking such a thing could be
That you could ever care for me
I'm sure you hate to hear

That I adore you, dear
But grant me
Just the same
I'm not entirely to blame

For love
You'd be so easy to love
So easy to idolize
All others above

So worth the yearning for
So swell to keep every homefire burning for
We'd be so grand at the game
So carefree together

That it does seem a shame
That you can't see
Your future with me
'Cause you'd be oh, so easy to love

I know too well that I'm just wasting precious time
In thinking such a thing could be
That you could ever care for me
I'm sure you hate to hear

That I adore you, dear
But grant me
Just the same
I'm not entirely to blame

For love
You'd be so easy to love
So easy to idolize
All others above

So worth the yearning for
So swell to keep every homefire burning for
We'd be so grand at the game
So carefree together

That it does seem a shame
That you can't see
Your future with me
'Cause you'd be oh, so easy to love

I know too well that I'm just wasting precious time
In thinking such a thing could be
That you could ever care for me
I'm sure you hate to hear

That I adore you, dear
But grant me
Just the same
I'm not entirely to blame

For love
You'd be so easy to love
So easy to idolize
All others above

So worth the yearning for
So swell to keep every homefire burning for
We'd be so grand at the game
So carefree together

That it does seem a shame
That you can't see
Your future with me
'Cause you'd be oh, so easy to love