The Manhattan Transfer Follow

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-second 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 around'
'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, Max 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, 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, indeed, he 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, Max 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

(Come in pairs down them stairs, lose y' cares)
Down them stairs, lose them cares yeah!
(Them that dares gits it!)
Down in Birdland
(Pay the gate, don't be late)
Total swing! Bop was king yeah!
(It's a date! Whattay' know)
Down in Birdland
(If y' dig, then you'll dig, it's a groove)
Bird would cook, Max would look yeah!
(Quite a groove, 'cause y' t' move)
Down in Birdland
(Come in twos, pay your dues)
Miles came through, 'trane came too yeah!
(What can you lose?)
(Just your blues!)
Down in Birdland
(So lose them!)
Basie blew, Blakey too yeah!
(The band swingin' one and all and what a ball!)
Down in Birdland
(Yeah!)
Cannonball played that hall yeah!
(Music is good, music is better than good)
(Pretty good)
Down in Birdland
(Very nice)

(Really very good things are bein' like they should)
Down them stairs, lose y' cares yeah!
(Very good, very good, very good)
Down in Birdland
(All y' gotta do is lend an ear)
(An' listen to it)
Total swing! Bop was king yeah!
(Then y' dig a little sooner than soon)
(You'll be diggin' everything diggin' all the music)
Down in Birdland
(What a ball!)
Bird would cook, Max would look yeah!
(How y' gonna figure out)
(A way t' bring it all about amid a)
Down in Birdland
(Lot o' other music on the set'n on)
(The scene know what I mean?)