they took the tune and the words
right from the mocking birds

that's how a song was born

and then the soft evening breeze
huffed through the willow trees
that's how a song was born

the tinklin' rain from the sky
became a lullaby
and the blues must've come from a sigh

and when two hearts beat in time
bluebells began to chime

that's how a song was born

they took a reek jungle beat

and brought it to Basin Street
and that's how jazz was born
and someone played a whale

all up and down the scale
and that's how jazz was born..

they simply played what they liked
as long as it would fit

if it just had a beat
that was it

and when a heart gave a scream

they took it as a theme
and that's how jazz was born....