April 15 - Bessie Smith (The Musical Birthday Series)

Bessie Smith (15 April 1894 – 26 September 1937) was a hugely admired and influential blues singer.

Birthday Blues for Bessie

Woke up this morning and I had the birthday blues,

Oh, woke up this morning and I had the birthday blues,

Just another birthday, don’t have to tell you whose.

Each year I get older, and get closer to the grave,

Every year I’m older, and I’m closer to my grave,

Never learned my lesson, and I still misbehave.

Used to pray on birthdays, but they told me it’s a myth,

Went to church on birthdays, but they told me it’s a myth,

But I’ve still got my Victrola and the voice of Bessie Smith.