The prolific and virtually unknown songwriter George David Weiss (April 9, 1921 – August 23, 2010) penned the lyrics to this jazz standard referring to the Birdland jazz club in New York named after Charlie “Bird” Parker. The melody is by blind pianist George Shearing. It was a hit for Ella Fitzgerald in 1954, but Sarah Vaughn defined it (for me). It seems so easy to sing, spanning only an octave and a third, and it makes singers happy, like chocolate. Unfortunately, the intervals mean it can be sung so wrong that the pleasure resides entirely in the singer. Here are the masters, and Bobby McFerrin sings it with a woman in the audience, from 1:05. I like his alternative lyrics. “Eat pie,” indeed. Don’t the lyrics just beg for a bit of creative editing? And finally, Amy Winehouse belts it out in great classic style.
Lullaby of Birdland
Oh, lullaby of birdland, that’s what I
Always hear when you sigh,
Never in my wordland could there be ways to reveal
in a phrase how I feel
Have you ever heard two turtle doves
Bill and coo, when they love?
That’s the kind of magic music we make with our lips
When we kiss
And there’s a weepy old willow
He really knows how to cry,
That’s how I’d cry in my pillow
If you should tell me farewell and goodbye
Lullaby of birdland whisper low
Kiss me sweet, and we’ll go
Flying high in birdland, high in the sky up above
All because we’re in love
song of the week 🙂 englisch lernen mit liedern