Lyrics

SOUTH SIDE BLUES (Music & Lyric by Louis Rosen)

Black folks here
Black folks there
Black folks movin’ everywhere
On the South Side
A change was comin’
And we all heard the news
“Are we leavin’? Are we stayin’?”
That’s the South Side Jews Blues

Blacks move in
Whites move out
That’s Chicago without a doubt
On the South Side
Knock down those dominos
And light up that fuse
“Are we leavin’? Are we stayin’?”
That’s the South Side Jews Blues.

Some will hold on with all their might
They can’t afford to move away
Some will try hard to do what’s right
And some will run to live and run another day

I asked myself, “Why?”
I asked myself, “Who?”
I answered, some just don’t like barbecue
On the South Side
I watched my buddies
I was lookin’ for clues

Would their Daddies think by leavin’ there was
Nothin’ to lose?
Were their Mommies maybe prayin’ that they
Won’t have to choose?
Was the question, “What to do?”
Or was the question, “What excuse do we use?”
“Are we leavin’? Are we stayin’?”
That’s the South Side.
“Leavin?” “Stayin?”
That’s the South Side Jews Blues.

© 2006 by Louis Rosen/Lullwater Music, ASCAP. All Rights Reserved.