Birdland Lyrics - Manhattan Transfer

5000 light years from Birdland 

But I'm still preachin' the rythym 

Long gone uptight years from Birdland 

And I'm still teachin' it with 'em 

Years from the land of the Bird 

And I am still feelin' the spirit 

5000 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 52nd Street 

Everybody heard that word 

That they named it after Bird 

Where the rythym 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, old swingin' Birdland 

Hey man, the music really turns you on 

Really? Ya turn me around and 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 

Basie blew, Blakie too 

Where? Down in Birdland 

Cannonball played that hall there 

Down in Birdland, yeah 

There will never be nothin' such as that 

No more, skoo be wah, no more 

Down in Birdland, that's where it was at 

I know, ah ah ah ah ah, I know 

Back in them days Bop was ridin' high 

Hello, heh heh heh heh heh, 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 those cats were cookin' on 

People just sat and they were steady lookin' on 

Then Bird, he came and spread the word 

Birdland 

Yes indeed he did 

Yes indeed he did 

Yes indeed he did 

Yes he did Parker played in Birdland 

Yes he really did 

Yes indeed he really did told the truth way down in Birdland 

Yes indeed he did, Yard bird 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 

And 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, Max would look 

Yeah, down in Birdland 

Miles came through, trane came too 

Yeah, down in Birdland 

Basie blew, Blakie 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, Max would look 

Yeah, down in Birdland 

Miles came through, trane came too 

Yeah, down in Birdland 

Basie blew, Blakie 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, Max would look 

Yeah, down in Birdland