Serenade Blues

A popular song from 1922.
Words and music by Noble Sissle and Eubie Blake.
With apologies to the Franz Schubert.

This song also uses the W. C. Handy melody “Shoeboot’s Serenade”.


The sheet music:


Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:


Lyrics

  1. Blues, Lawd, I love them so
    I love each note that Handy wrote
    Blues, why they’re all the go
    B’lieve what I say, they’re here to stay
    Of course I like the classic music
    I mean I like the melodies and minor keys
    But if you want a treat
    Here’s one I know you can’t beat
    Lawd-ee

Refrain
Just take the Serenade that Schubert wrote
And take the classic shade from ev’ry note
Then with that melody start in to playing
Forget the artist and the olden ways
But like the smartest of our modern days
Just fill that melody chuck full of
Jazzy syncopations, razzy modulations
When you get to that minor strain
Oh, Lawdy, let me hear you sit right on it
Why just to hear it oh! once again
I would take my diamond ring right off and pawn it
I’d bet my very last pair of shoes
That even Paderewsky would choose
The jazzy Serenade
When he hears it played
Serenade blues

Obbligato
Through the leaves the night winds moving
Murmur so low and sweet
To thy chamber window, roving
Love hath led my feet
Silent prayers, blissful feeling
Link us, though apart
To each dreaming heart
To each dreaming heart

  1. Blues, why they’re all the rage
    In ev’ry home from here to Rome
    Blues played on ev’ry stage
    In churches, too, whole world’s gone blue
    Grand op’ra soon will be a has been
    I mean its style, not melodies nor minor keys
    For they’re always a hit
    If you jazz them up a bit
    Lawd-ee

Sung here by Fred Feild: