Lady Sings the Blues

Billy Holiday wasn't just singing the blues, she was the blues, it was her whole life


posted 20/10/13

#254 Lady sings the blues

Billy Holiday lived during the depression

when racism was rife

you could walk out of an evening

not come home with your life

she sang of hope

she sang songs of love

in that haunting melodic voice

this wasn’t her decision

she really had no choice

today we have singers

mimicking her tone

what they don’t realise

it wasn’t just a career

this was what secured her home

the difference from living on the streets

having nothing to eat

or singing for your life

she had a hard life

she knew trouble

she experienced strife

so when you listen to her songs

listen to the words

for in every song

there is that desperate little girl