The Buzzard Song

(album: The Complete Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong on Verve - 1997)

Boss, dat bird mean trouble.
Once de buzzard fold his wing an' light over yo' house,
All yo' happiness done dead.
Buzzard keep on flying over, take along yo' shadow.

Aing nobody dead dis morning
Livin's jus' begun.
Two is strong where one is feeble;
Man an' woman living, working,

Sharing grief an' sharing laughter,
An' love like Augus' sun.
Trouble, is dat you over yonder
Looking lean an' hungry?

Don' you let dat buzzard keep you
Hanging round my do'.
Aing you heard de news this mornin'?
Step out, brudder, hit de gravel;

Porgy who you used to feed on,
Don' live here no mo'
Ha, ha, ha, ha! Buzzard, on yo' way!
Ole age, what is you anyhow,

Nutting but being lonely.
Pack yo' things an' fly from here,
Carry grief an' pain.
Dere's two folks living in dis shelter

Eating, sleeping, singing, praying.
Aing no such thing as loneliness.
An' Porgy's young again.

Buzzard, keep on flying,
Porgy's young again.