Five thousand lightyears 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

Five thousand lightyears 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 giged in there

Were beyond compare



Birdland, I'm singing Birdland

Birdland, Old swingin' Birdland



Hey man, the music really turns you on (ya turn me 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!



(Yo yo yo yo yo yo yo yo yo...)

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, Yardbird 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

(repeat under the following solo till fade)



Come in pairs, Down them stairs, Lose your cares

Him that cares gets it

Play the gate, Don't be late, It's a date

What d'ya know

Is it me, Is it you, It's a clue

Come in twos, Pay your dues, What can you lose?

Just your blues, So lose them!

(ad libbing till the end)