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Traditional
If it hadn't been for cotton-eye joe
I'd been married long time ago
Where did you come from. Where did you go?
Where did you come from cotton-eye joe?
(repeat)
He came to town like a midwinter storm
He rode through the fields so
Handsome and strong
His eyes was his tools and his smile was his gun
But all he had come for was having some fun
(repeat intro)
He brought disaster wherever he went
The hearts of the girls was to hell broken sent
They all ran away so nobody would know
And left only men cause of cotton-eye joe
(repeat intro)
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(1941) Paul Francis Webster, Duke Ellington
My baby never treats me sweet and gentle the way he should;
I got it bad and that ain't good!
My poor heart is sentimental not made of wood
I got it bad and that ain't good!
But when the weekend's over and Monday rolls aroun'
I end up like I start out just cryin' my heart out
He don't love me like I love him nobody could
I got it bad and that ain't good!
Like a lonely weeping willow lost in the wood
I got it bad and that ain't good!
And the things I tell my pillow no woman should
I got it bad and that ain't good!
Tho folks with good intentions tell me to save my tears
I'm glad I'm mad about him I can't live without him
Lord above me make him love me the way he should
I got it bad and that ain't good!
Original lyric
The poets say that all who love are blind
But I'm in love and I know what time it is!
The Good Book says "Go seek and ye shall find"
Well, I have sought and my what a climb it is!
My life is just like the weather
It changes with the hours
When he's near I'm fair and warmer
When he's gone I'm cloudy with showers;
in emotion, like the ocean it's either sink or swim
When a woman loves a man like I love him.
Never treats me sweet and gentle the way he should;
I got it bad and that ain't good!
My poor heart is sentimental not made of wood
I got it bad and that ain't good!
But when the weekend's over and Monday rolls aroun'
I end up like I start out just cryin' my heart out
He don't love me like I love him nobody could
I got it bad and that ain't good!
Like alonely weeping willow lost in the wood
I got it bad and that ain't good!
And the things I tell my pillow no woman should
I got it bad and that ain't good!
Tho folks with good intentions tell me to save my tears
I'm glad I'm mad about him I can't live without him
Lord above me make him love me the way he should
I got it bad and that ain't good!
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(1956) Duke Ellington, Straylor
I belong to you and I know I show it
You belong to me baby you'd better know it
Give me all your love sugar spice and sweet honey
Don't you ever quit
Not for love or money I'd do most anything
Just to amuse you
But ther's nothing that I wouln't do
Thought that I would ever lose you
When I play the game I can't afford to blow it
Cos I play for keeps you'd better know it
Yes I'd do most anything just to amuse you
But there's nothing that I wouldn't do
If I ever thought I'd lose you
When I play the game I can't afford to blow it
Cos I play for keeps you better know it
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(1953) Billy Strayhorn, Johnny Mercer, Duke Ellington
Cigarette holder which wigs me
Over her shoulder, she digs me.
Out cattin' that satin doll.
Baby, shall we go out skippin ?
Careful, amigo, you're flippin',
Speaks Latin that satin doll.
She's nobody's fool so I'm playing it cool as can be.
I'll give it a whirl but I ain't for no girl catching me,
Swich-e-rooney.
Telephone numbers well you know,
Doing my rhumbas with uno
And that'n my satin doll.
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Choir:Doo do do, do do do-oo do, do do Doo do do, do do do Doo do do, do do do-oo do, do do Doo do do, do do do
It don't mean a thing, if you can't swingDooa doa doa – doa doa doaaWell, it don't mean a thing, all you gotta do is singDooa doa doa – doa doa doaa
Makes no diff'rence if it's sweet or hotGive that rhythm ev'rything you've got
It don't mean a thing, all you gotta do is swingDooa doa doa doaa
Choir:It don't mean a thing, if you ain't got that swingPianoIt don't mean a thing, all you gotta do is singPianoMakes no diff'rence if it's sweet or hotPianoIt don't mean a thing, no, it don't mean a thingPiano
It don't mean a thing, if you ain't got that swingYeah, doa, ooh, doa, ooh doa, oyeahIt don't mean a thing, all you gotta do is swingWell, doa, ooh doa, ooh doa (doa doa)
Makes no diff'rence if it's sweet or hotGive that rhythm ev'rything you've got
It don't mean a thing, if you can't swingIt don't mean a thing, if you can't sing
Sing your song, all day longAll the time, right on timeEv'ry day, ev'ry wayMakes no diff'rence, sweet or hotGive that song, all you gotSing it, sing it,Doa, doa, o yeah, doa, allright, o yeah, Sing the song, all day longDoaa, o yeah
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It's not 'cause I wouldn't,
It's not 'cause I shouldn't,
And, you know though well, it's not 'cause I couldn't,
It's simply because I'm the laziest gal in town.
My poor heart is achin'
To bring home the bacon,
And if I find myself alone and forsaken,
It's simply because I'm the laziest gal in town.
Though I'm more than willing to learn
How these gals get so much extra money to burn,
Every little proposition I just turn it down,
'Way down,
It's not 'cause I wouldn't,
It's not 'cause I shouldn't, honey,
And, you know, that it's not 'cause I couldn't,
It's simply because I'm the laziest, laziest gal in town.
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Bouncing off your wall
Pathways of my mind
Are on their way
Another way
For today
Ohho
You want me to see you
I can not see you
You want me to come for you
I can not come for you
You want an assignment
I see no concession
Shall I hang my head with yours and be blue
Send away laughter
And spend all my time, com'on darling
Thinking about you
Don't you know there are things I can't do
My mind is on its way
Another way
For today
Ohho
My spirit is so foreign
You want silence
My spirit Is taking flight
But baby you wanna cry tonight
Shall I hang my head with yours
Send away laughter and fun
And spend all my time
Thinking about you
Only about you
Don't you know there are things
That I can't do
My mind is on its way
Another way
For today
Heyheyy....
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George Bass
Yeah
Yeah yeah yeah yeah
Alright ye
See-line woman
She drink coffee
She drink tea
And then go home
See-line woman
See-line woman
Dressed in green
Wears silk stockings
With golden seams
See-line woman
See-line woman
Dressed in red
Make a man lose his head
See-line woman
See-line woman
Black dress on
For a thousand dollars
She wail and she moan
See-line woman
Wiggle wiggle
Turn like a cat
Wink at a man
And he wink back
Now child
See-line woman
Empty his pockets
And wreck his days
Make him love her
And she'll fly away
See-line woman
Take it on out now
Empty his pockets
And she wreck his days
And she make him love her
Then she sure fly away
She got a black dress on
For a thousand dollars
She wail and she moan...
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Ne me quitte pas
Il faut oublier
Tout peut s'oublier
Qui s'enfuit déjà
Oublier le temps
Des malentendus
Et le temps perdu
A savoir comment
Oublier ces heures
Qui tuaient parfois
A coups de pourquoi
Le coeur du bonheur
Ne me quitte pas
Ne me quitte pas
Ne me quitte pas
Ne me quitte pas
Moi je t'offrirai
Des perles de pluie
Venues de pays
Ou il ne pleut pas
Je creuserai la terre
Jusqu'après ma mort
Pour couvrir ton corps
D'or et de lumière
Je ferai un domaine
Ou l'amour sera roi
Ou l'amour sera loi
Ou tu seras reine
Ne me quitte pas
Ne me quitte pas
Ne me quitte pas
Ne me quitte pas
Ne me quitte pas
Je t'inventerai
Des mots insensés
Que tu comprendras
Je te parlerai
De ces amants-là
Qui ont vu deux fois
Leurs coeurs s'embraser
Je te raconterai
L'histoire de ce roi
Mort de n'avoir pas
Pu te rencontrer
Ne me quitte pas
Ne me quitte pas
Ne me quitte pas
Ne me quitte pas
On a vu souvent
Rejaillir le feu
De l'ancien volcan
Qu'on croyait trop vieux
Il est para'?t-il
Des terres brulées
Donnant plus de blé
Qu'un meilleur avril
Et quand vient le soir
Pour qu'un ciel flamboie
Le rouge et le noir
Ne s'épousent-ils pas
Ne me quitte pas
Ne me quitte pas
Ne me quitte pas
Ne me quitte pas
Ne me quitte pas
Je ne vais plus pleurer
Je ne vais plus parler
Je me cacherai là
A te regarder
Danser et sourire
Et à t'écouter
Chanter et puis rire
Laisse-moi devenir
L'ombre de ton ombre
L'ombre de ta main
L'ombre de ton chien
Ne me quitte pas
Ne me quitte pas
Ne me quitte pas
Ne me quitte pas
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No Opportunity Necessary, No Experience Needed |
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Langston Hughes, Nina Simone
Mr. Backlash, Mr. Backlash
Just who do think I am
You raise my taxes, freeze my wages
And send my son to Vietnam
You give me second class houses
And second class schools
Do you think that alla colored folks
Are just second class fools
Mr. Backlash, I'm gonna leave you
With the backlash blues
When I try to find a job
To earn a little cash
All you got to offer
Is your mean old white backlash
But the world is big
Big and bright and round
And it's full of folks like me
Who are black, yellow, beige and brown
Mr. Backlash, I'm gonna leave you
With the backlash blues
Mr. Backlash, Mr. Backlash
Just what do you think I got to lose
I'm gonna leave you
With the backlash blues
You're the one will have the blues
Not me, just wait and see
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Gordon Jenkins, Joe Bishop
Let me cry, let me sighWhen I'm blueLet me go way from this lonely town
Won't be long for my songWill be thruCause I know I'm on my last go-round
All the love I could steal beg or borrowWouldn't heal all this pain in my soulWhat is Love but a prelude to sorrowWith heartache ahead for your goal
Here I go, now you knowWhy I'm leavingGot the Blues, What can I lose....Good-bye.
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One more
Sunday in Savannah
Hear the whole creation shoutin'
Praise the Lord
See them flinging out the banner
While the congregation says amen
Young folk
Tendin' Sunday School
They sing merrilly 'bout the golden rule
Horse sense preaching all the day
They all hollar in the righteous way
It's time for me to call on Mother Hannah
While she sits there wishing for her last reward
One more Sunday in Savannah
One more Sunday in Atlanta
It's the same thing
Same feeling
Don't ya dare
Go fishin' son
Amen
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I want a little sugar
In my bowl
I want a little sweetness
Down in my soul
I could stand some lovin'
Oh so bad
I feel so funny and I feel so sad
I want a little steam
On my clothes
Maybe I can fix things up
So they'll go
Whatsa matter Daddy
Come on, save my soul
I need some sugar in my bowl
I ain't foolin'
I want some sugar in my bowl
You been acting different
I've been told
Soothe me
I want some sugar in my bowl
I want some steam
On my clothes
Maybe I can fix things up so they'll go
Whatsa matter Daddy
Come on, save my soul
I want some sugar in my bowl
I ain't foolin'
I want some sugar hmmm
In my bowl.
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Rudy Stevenson
Ain't no use baby
I'm leaving the scene
Ain't no use baby
You're too doggone mean
Yes I'm tired of paying dues
Having the blues
Hitting bad news
Ain't no use baby
Ain't no use baby
I'm leaving town
Ain't no use daddy
I'm putting you down
I'm gonna change my name
Things won't be the same
Cos I'm tired of palying your game
Ain't no use baby I tell you ain't no use
I tried all these years Lord knows I've tried
Yes and I cried deep down inside
But daddy why complain
It's all over and you're to blame yeah yeah
Ain't no use baby
Shed them tears
Ain't no use baby
I cried for years for too many years
You done had your fun
Ain't no use
Ain't no use
Ain't no use daddy
Ain't no use
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Young, gifted, and black
Oh what a lovely precious dream
To be young, gifted, and black
Open your heart to what I mean
In the whole world you'll know
There’s a million boys and girls
Who are young, gifted, and black
And that's a fact!
You are young, gifted, and black
We must begin to tell our young
There's a world waiting for you
Yours is the quest that's just begun
When you’re feeling real low
There's a great truth that you should know
When you're young, gifted, and black
Your soul's intact!
To be young, gifted, and black
Oh how I've longed to know the truth
There are times when I look back
And I am haunted by my youth
Oh but my joy of today
Is that we can all be proud to say
To be young, gifted, and black
Is where it's at…Is where it's at…Is where it's at!
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Stay away from me
Cause i'm in my sin
Stay away from me
Cause i'm in my sin
If this joint is raided
Somebody get me my gin
Don't try me nobody
Cause you will never win
Don't try me nobody
Cause you will never win
I'll fight the army and navy
Somebody give me my gin
I don't want no clothes
I don't want no bed
I don't want no clothes yeah
Want no bed
Want no pork chops and greens
Just give me gin instead
Stay away from me
Cause i'm in my sin
Stay away from me yeah
Cause i'm in my sin
Joint is raided
I don't care!
Give me my gin!
I'm in my sin
Joint is raided
Lets go home
So i can get me my gin
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Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart
Sprinh is here
Why doesn't my heart go dancing
Spring is here
Why isn't the waltz entrancing
No desire no ambition leads me
Maybe it's becaus nobody needs me
Spring is here
Why doesn't the breeze delight me
Stars appear
Why doesn't the night invite me
But maybe it's because nobody loves me
Spring is here I hear
Somebody told me spring is here
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(1960) Jule Styne, Adolph Green, Betty Comden
Let's go
Just in time you found me just in time
Before you came my time was running low
I was lost them losing dice were tossed
My bridges all were crossed nowhere to go
Now you're here now I know just where I'm going
No more doubt or fear I've found my way
Your love came just in time you found me just in time
And changed my lonely nights that lucky day
Just in time
Before you came my time was running low oh baby
I was lost them losing dice were tossed
My bridges all were crossed nowhere to go
Now you're here now I know just where I'm going
No more doubt or fear I've found my way
Your love came just in time you've found me just in time
And changed my lonely nights and changed my lonely nights
And changed my lonely nights and changed my lonely nights
And changed my lonely nights that lucky day
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Baby you understand me now
If sometimes you see that I'm mad
Don't cha know no one alive can always be an angel?
When everything goes wrong you see some bad
But I'm just a soul whose intentions are good
Oh Lord, please don't let me be misunderstood
Ya know sometimes baby I'm so carefree
With a joy that's hard to hide
And then sometimes again it seems that all I have is worry
And then you're bound to see my other side
But I'm just a soul whose intentions are good
Oh Lord, please don't let me be misunderstood
If I seem edgy
I want you to know
I never mean to take it out on you
Life has its problems
and I get more than my share
but that's one thing I never mean to do
Caus' I love you
Oh baby
I'm just human
Don't you know I have faults like anyone?
Sometimes I find myself alone regretting
some little foolish thing
some simple thing that I've done
Caus' I'm just a soul whose intentions are good
Oh Lord, please don't let me be misunderstood
Don't let me be misunderstood
I try so hard
So please don't let me be misunderstood
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Traditional
There is a house in New Orleans
Call it the Rising Sun
And it's been the ruin
Of many a poor girl
And me, oh Lord, I'm one
If I'd listened what my mama said
Be at home today
Bein' so young
And foolish, my Lord
Let a gambler lead me astray
My mother was a tailor
Sews new blue jeans
My sweetheart's is a drunkarad, Lord
Drinks down in New Orleans
Go tell my baby sister
Never do what I have done
Shun that house in New Orleans
They call it the Rising Sun
Goin' back to New Orleans
Race is almost run
Goin' back to spend my life
Beneath, beneath, beneath, oh Lord
Beneath, oh now
Beneath the rising, rising sun
Now, now
You come on bye
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Near to you, near to you
Even though you’re far away
So near to you, always near to you
As near as april is to may
Can’t you feel me there, in my favourite chair
Staring at the fireplace?
Oh so near to you, always near to you
Even now it seems we’re face to face
But it is just if though I was standing before you
Telling you how much I adore you
If I’m really dear to you, near to you
We may be far apart and yet
If I’m in your heart, really in your heart
How near to you can I get
(2x)
Oh so near to you, always near to you
As near as april is to may
Can’t you feel me there, in my favourite chair
Staring at the fireplace?
Oh so near to you, always near to you
Even now it seems we’re face to face
But it is just if though I was standing before you
Telling you how much I adore you
If I’m really dear to you, near to you
We may be far apart and yet
If I’m in your heart, really in your heart
How near to you can I get?
How near to you can I get?
How near to you, can I get?
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Sebastian Mure
When I was a young girl I used to see pleasure
When I was a young girl I used to drink ale
Right out of the ale house and into the jail house
Right out of the bar room and down to my grave
Come mama come papa sit you beside me
Come mama come papa and pity my case
My poor heart is aching my heart it is breaking
My body salve-aided and I'm bound to die
Go send for the preacher to come and pray for me
Go send for the doctor to heal up my
My poor heart is aching my heart it is breaking
My body salve-aided and hell is my home
I want three young ladies to bear up my coffin
I want three young ladies to take me along
I want them to carry a bunch of wild roses
To put on my body as I pass along
One morning one morning in May
One morning one morning in May
I spy this young lady all clad in white linnen
All clad in white linnen cold as a clay
When I was a young girl I used to see pleasure
When I was a young girl I used to drink ale
Right out of the bar room
Right out of the ale house and into the jail house
Right out of the bar room down to my grave
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(1934) Eddie Delange, Irving Mills, Duke Ellington
In my solitude you haunt meWith reveries of days gone byIn my solitude you taunt meWith memories that never die
I sit in my chairFilled with despairNobody could be so sadWith gloom ev'rywhereI sit and I stareI know that I'll soon go mad
In my solitudeI'm prayingDear Lord aboveSend back my love
Original lyric
In my solitude you haunt meWith reveries of days gone byIn my solitude you taunt meWith memories that never die
I sit in my chairI'm filled with despairThere's no one could be so sadWith gloom ev'rywhereI sit and I stareI know that I'll soon go mad
In my solitudeI'm prayingDear Lord aboveSend back my love
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(1956) billy strayhorn, duke ellington
Buddy bolden tune upBlowing horn was his gameBorn with a silver trumpet in his mouthHe played the horn before he talkedBorn on the after beatHe patted his foot before walked
When buddy bolden tuned up you could hear him clean
Clean across the river clean across the riverHe woke up the working people and kept the easy livingCall on buddy bolden call him buddy bolden
Watch it he's calling his flock nowHe's calling his flock now here they comeCall him buddy bolden he's calling his flock nowHere they come here they comeCome on buddy bolden here they come
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My skin is black
My arms are long
My hair is woolly
My back is strong
Strong enough to take the pain
inflicted again and again
What do they call me
My name is AUNT SARAH
My name is Aunt Sarah
My skin is yellow
My hair is long
Between two worlds
I do belong
My father was rich and white
He forced my mother late one night
What do they call me
My name is SAFFRONIA
My name is Saffronia
My skin is tan
My hair is fine
My hips invite you
my mouth like wine
Whose little girl am I?
Anyone who has money to buy
What do they call me
My name is SWEET THING
My name is Sweet Thing
My skin is brown
my manner is tough
I'll kill the first mother I see
my life has been too rough
I'm awfully bitter these days
because my parents were slaves
What do they call me
My name is PEACHES
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(1853) wasserman, aaron neville
Oh I'm lonely and left with tears and sorrowI can't face tomorrow since my love has goneHe's left me left me for another and my heart went with himHow can I go on
Was our love a game played for a day
Were you pretending two hearts gone astrayAm I to blame for this unhappy ending
Nothing else is left me but a memoryBeloved how I long to hold you in my arms enfold youLive again out happiness but now I can face tomorrow aloneSince my love has gone
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Traditional
Black is the color of my true love's hair
His face so soft and wondrous fair
The purest eyes
And the strongest hands
I love the ground on where he stands
I love the ground on where he stands
Black is the color of my true love's hair
Of my true love's hair
Of my true love's hair
Oh I love my lover
And well he knows
Yes, I love the ground on where he goes
And still I hope
That the time will come
When he and I will be as one
When he and I will be as one
So black is the color of my true love's hair
Black is the color of my true love's hair
Black is the color of my true love's hair
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Cross, Cory
I'll look around
And when I've found me somebody who laughs like you
I know somewhere spring must fill the air with sweetness
Just as rare as a flower that you gave me to wear
So I'll look around
Sweetheart and when i've found me somebody
Somebody who laughs like you
I'll know this love that I've been dreaming of
And it won't be the old love that I always knew
Mmm who laughs like you
I know somewhere spring must fill the air with sweetness
Just as rare as a flower that you gave me to wear
So I'll look around
And when I've found me somebody who laughs like you
I'll know this love that I've been dreaming of
And it won't be the old love that I always knew
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When I was in my prime, I flourished like a vine.
Along there came a false young man, come stole the heart of mine.
Come stole the heart of mine
The gardener standing by, three offers he made me.
The pink, the violet, and red rose, which I refused all three.
Which I refused all three
The pink's no flower at all, it fades away too soon.
The violet is too pale a bloom, I think I'll wait till June
I think I'll wait till June
In June the red rose blooms, but it's not the flower for me.
It's then I'll uproot the red, red rose, and plant a willow tree.
And plant a willow tree
And the willow tree shall weep and the willow tree shall mourn.
How I wish I were in my young man's arms who stole the heart of mine.
Who stole the heart of mine
And if I'm spared young year more, and if God should grant me grace.
I'll weep a bowl of crystal tears, and wash his deceitful face.
And wash his deceitful face.
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