Everybody wants to know

Why I sing the blues

Yes I say everybody wanna know

Why I sing the blues

Well I've been around for a long time

I really have paid my dues

When I first got the blues

They brought me over on a ship

Men were standing over me

And a lot more with a whip

And everybody wanna know

Why I sing the blues

Well I've been around for a long time

Mm I've really paid my dues

I've laid in a ghetto flat

Cold and numb

I heard the rats tell the bedbugs

To give the roaches some

Everybody wanna know

Why I'm singing the blues

Yes I've been around for a long time

People I've paid my dues

I stood in line

Down at the county hall

I heard a man say

We're gonna build

Some new apartments for y'all

And everybody wanna know

Why I'm singing the blues

Yes I've been around for a long time

People I'll tell you I've paid my dues

Everybody wanna know

Why I'm singing the blues

I say I've been around a long time

Yes I've really paid some dues

I've really paid my dues