Birdland
Composer(s): Joe Zawinul
Originally performed by: Weather Report
Covered by various other artists



Five thousand light years from Birdland
But I'm still preachin' the rhythm
Long gone up-tight years from Birdland
And I'm still teachin' it with 'em

Years from the land of the bird
And I'm still feeling the spirit
Five thousand 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

In the middle of that hub
I remember one jazz club
Where we went to pat feet
Down on fifty-second street

Everybody heard that word
That they named it after Bird

Where the rhythm swooped and swirled
The jazz corner of the world

And the cats they gigged in there
Were beyond compare

Birdland - I'm singing Birdland

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
Baise 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 More - No More
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 loookin 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 way down in Birdland
Yes, indeed, he did, Charlie 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 ­ 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
Baise blew, Blakey too ­ where?
Down in Birdland
Cannonball played that hall ­ there
Down in Birdland

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
Baise blew, Blakey too ­ where?
Down in Birdland
Cannonball played that hall ­ there
Down in Birdland

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 it 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 to bring it all about amid a
Lot of other music on the set and 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'