Billie Holiday - Lady Sings The Blues

[ Oh, I almost forgot...
and my name is Billie,
Billie Holiday ]

Black? Can't you see?
Singer? Listen to me and you'll see
Whore? Yeah, I've done that too
And I drink like four men
You don't scare me, I've played in worse places than this
In cowboy bars down south where they spat on me
In a town where the same day they lynched a black man
In New Orleans where a stylish devil
Gave me drug flowers every night
And in Chicago I fell in love with a syphilitic trumpeter
And outside the club they smashed my mouth
In the rain from one station to another
Lady sings the blues

Black? Yeah, but I'm used to it
Singer? I sing like a cage full of birds
Low and high notes, and the whole repertoire
I can flutter like those beautiful singers in the movies
And then I can plant a ballad in your heart
Want strange fruit? Want midnight train?
I can sing it to you even drunk
Or with a knife in my back
Or full of whiskey and more, because I'm a saint
And my altar is in the smoke of this stage
Where Lady sings the blues

Black? Black and beautiful, my friend
Singer? I don't know how to do anything else
Whore? Well yeah, I've done that too
And I drink like four men
Don't touch me or I'll scratch that pretty white face
Put down the glass, open what little heart you have
Be silent and listen, I'm singing
Like it's the last time
Shut up, bastards, and bow down
Lady sings the blues

And when you get home, say
I heard an angel sing
With marble and satin wings
Smelled of whiskey, she was a black whore and sick
Say my name to everyone, don't forget me
I'm the queen of a kingdom of rags
I'm the voice of the sun on the cotton fields
I'm the black voice full of light
I'm the lady who sings the blues

Oh, I almost forgot...
and my name is Billie
Billie Holiday