Rhythm & Blues

Oh people come on down

Come on down

to the rhythm and move

Come on down

to the rhythm and swing

Oh people come on down

Come on down

to the rhythm and blues

Stand up and move your feet

Feel that steady rising beat

Do you hear the voices on the street

Carrying the news

Can’t you hear those ancients call

From Mozambique to Senegal

Tinie Tempah, Biggie Smalls

Now where did they come from

Oh people come on down

Come on down

to the rhythm and sing

Come on down

to the rhythm and move

Yeah people come on down

Come on down

to the rhythm and blues

Let me take you on a trip

Way back before the blues were hip

When Bessie Smith was letting rip

Rag mama rag

It’s Harlem 1952

East St Louis toodleoo

The Duke and Billy Strayhorn too

Now don’t forget those names

Oh people come on down

Come on down to the rhythm and sing

Come on down

to the rhythm and move

Yeah brother come on down

Come on down

to the rhythm and blues

Oh I was maybe eight or nine

When Nat King Cole was in his prime

And Charlie Parker’s doing time

For carrying the blues, yeah

Something changed in ‘62

With Miles and Monk and Malcolm too

What did those names mean to you

OK, let’s move on

James Brown, Cassius Clay

Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye

John Coltrane & MLK

They got on up

Detroit city came alive

Said fuck that

white boy rhythm and jive

Stevie Wonder he’s our guy

He’s signed, sealed, delivered

So, get up and feel the heat

Smell the coffee, dig the beat

Hear that message

on the street

Carrying the news

Oh people, come on down

Come on down

to the rhythm and sing

Come on down

to the rhythm and move

Yeah sister, come on down

Come on down

to the rhythm and swing

Come on down

to the rhythm and groove

Oh people, come on down

Come on down

to the rhythm and blues

The rhythm and blues