(J. Holiday/R. Charles) 



I could've been a gambler

‘Cause I'm good with cards

I could've been a lover, darlin'

Breakin' others' hearts

But I feel so silly

Bettin' on the dice

A lover seldom sees

The same girl twice 



Baby, that's why

Honey, that's why I choose, yes I do

Hey, now, baby, I choose to sing the blues

I gotta get down and sing the blues 



Well, I could've been a doctor

Workin' on the sick

I could've been a lawyer

But that ain't my schtick

Because I'd feel so bad

If a man did not get well

I'd plea something bad

That ended up in jail 



And, baby, that's why

You know, honey, that's why I choose

Got to sing and play

Just about every day

You know what I'm tryin' to say 



There's a lot of things

That a young man might present

You play you're cards right, baby

You might be a president

But I never understood

What a politician might say

Guess I like to talk in my own peculiar way 



And, baby that's why

Darlin' that's why I choose

Hey, now, baby

I've got to say, everyday

Got to play, come on, baby

Got to sing the blues, baby

Don't know nothin' else

Got to sing the blues

Come on now, baby

Got to, got to, got to, got to

Got to sing the blues, baby

Got to sing

My baby take all my money

And give it to some other man

I cant take it no more

Come on, darlin'

Got to sing the blues

Got to make some money sometimes, baby