Manhattan Transfer: Birdland

5,000 light years from Birdland But I'm still preachin' the rhythm Long-gone, uptight years from Birdland An' I'm still teachin' it with 'em Years from the land of the Bird An' 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 Well-stated! Birdland-- it happened down in Birdland Oh! In the middle of that hub I remember one jazz club Where we went to pat feet Down on fifty-secon' street Everybody heard that word That they named it after Bird Where the rhythm swooped and swirled The jazz corner of the world An' the cats they gigged in there Were beyond compare Birdland - I'm singin' 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, May 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 - there Down in Birdland Yeah--- There may never be nothin' such as that No Mo' - 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 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 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 at Birdland Yes, he really did Yes, indeed, he really did Yes, he really did Told the truth 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 - yeah! Down in Birdland Total swing! bop was king - yeah! Down in Birdland Bird would cook, May would look - yeah, Down in Birdland Miles came through, 'Trane came too - yeah! Down in Birdland Basie blew, Blakey too - yeah! Down in Birdland Cannonball played that hall - yeah Down in Birdland Down them stairs, lose them cares - yeah Down in Birdland Total swing! bop was king - yeah Down in Birdland Bird would cook, May would look - yeah, Down in Birdland Miles came through, 'Trane came too - yeah! Down in Birdland Basie blew, Blakey too - yeah! Down in Birdland Cannonball played that hall - yeah Down in Birdland Down them stairs, lose y' cares -yeah Down in Birdland Total swing! bop was king - yeah Down in Birdland Bird would cook, May would look - yeah, Down in Birdland Background Solo: 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 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'