Aretha Franklin - Why I Sing the Blues

Everybody wants to know, they ask me why I sing the blues Everybody wants to know now, why I keep crying the blues Well, I've been around little while And I've paid some dues, yes, I have People laying in ghetto flats, cold and numb Looking at roaches, telling bedbugs to move over and give 'em some Oh, it's hot in here, that's one reason I'm singing the blues, yeah Been around a long time God knows I've paid a few dues, yes, I have Stood in line at the County Hall Heard a man say, "We're gonna build some high rises for y'all "Up in renewal, work on a removal, talk to me, yeah" Don't feel bad about it, just trying to be free I don't want my kids growing up to be no fools You keep rapping to me y'all ain't got no room in school, yeah And you want to know why I'm singing the blues, yeah Been around a little while And I've seen some people paying dues, yes, I have Some of my friends told me I was born to lose But when I looked around they were singing the same old kind of blues, now And you want to know why I'm singing 'em this evening, yeah Don't be saying those, everybody pays some dues sometimes Yeah, sing the blues now