Beale Street Blues - circa 1920

Dr. Pitt-Payne in London UK - 28 Aug 2001

I've seen the lights of gay Broadway,
Old Market Street down by the Frisco Bay,
I've strolled the Praedo,
I've gambled on the Bourse.
The seven wonders of the world I've seen
and many are the places I have been.
Take my advice folks
and see Beale Street first.

You'll see pretty browns in
beautiful gowns,
you'll see tailor mades
and handmedowns,
you'll meet honest men
and pickpockets skilled,
you'll find that bus'ness never closes
till somebody gets killed.

You'll see HogNose rest'rants and
Chitlin Cafés,
you'll see Jugs that tell of bygone days
and places, once places,
now just a sham,
you'll see Golden Balls enough
to pave the New Jerusalem.

If Beale Street could talk
If Beale Street could talk,
married men would have
to take their beds and walk
except one or two,
who never drink booze
and the blind man on the corner
who sings the Beale Street Blues.

I'd rather be here,
than any place I know.
I'd rather be here
than any place I know.
It's goin' to take
the Sergeant for to make me go,
Goin' to the river,
Maybe, bye and bye.
Goin' to the river,
and there's a reason why;
because the river's wet
and Beale Street's done gone dry.

Soft karaoke
Words
treble clef 1
treble clef 2
lyric line
bass
Lyric Line
Beale Street Blues c.1920 W C Handy

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Beale Street Blues c.1920 W C Handy
Words and Music by W. C. Handy
© Pace and Handy, New York
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sequenced for Piano by
Dr. Pitt-Payne in London UK
on Tuesday 28 Aug 2001 at 22.39
in association with Doug Grierson
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© James Pitt-Payne, London UK, 2001
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