Birdland (Hendricks)

'Birdland' is a jazz-fusion instrumental composition written by keyboardist Joe Zawinul. The piece made its debut on Weather Report’s 1977 studio album, Heavy Weather.

Lyrics were added slightly later by Jon HENDRICKS:

5000 light years from Birdland, but I'm still preachin' the rhythm
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 rhythm 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, 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, 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

Recordings exist by Manhattan Transfer (1979), VOX, Kimiko Itoh, Joo Kraus, Young Voices Brandenburg, Perpetuum Jazzile, Keberiokst, Tous les Oiseaux de l'Europe, etc.