Jazz Baby

In Africa you were born In deep serenity To the sounds of mighty drums And rhythm’s authenticity. Stole you from your righteous land Cut it up like a birthday cake Gave it back to Anglo hands But your birth was no mistake. Hot sun baked your deep skin In their souls your people knew Down in the delta the cotton moved By the ***** spiritual, you grew. The teachings of gospel embraced you When Abe’s 13th had you lost When the choir called you responded Learned you could share your talent, but at a cost A burnt cork mask for the audience Buffoonery and minstrelsy, Jim Crow and Daddy Rice Exploitation in a racist Nation Theatrical vice. You got the blues Had a melancholy mood Broke down walls with the drowsy tunes That free and rootless attitude On the shoulder of Scott Joplin Mesmerized with how his fingers played Ragtime floats on running notes In New Orleans your future lay. The melting pot, jazz hotspot Black people, white people, blue, and green Creole heritage swirling all it meets Street smart, fine art, everything in between. Jazz is about freedom You have to improvise The band prides the electric ride Sharing music with each other’s eyes A jazz baby was born in the USA Dare I say the American way Day by Day by Day A growing Jazz Baby played.