Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

BEALE STREET BLUES, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: I've seen the lights of gay broadway
Last Line: And beale street's gone dry.
Alternate Author Name(s): Handy, W. C.


I've seen the lights of gay Broadway,
Old Market Street down by Frisco Bay,
I've strolled the Prado, I've gambled on the Bourse
The seven wonders of the world I've seen
And many are the places I have been.

Take my advice folks and see Beale Street first.

You'll see pretty Browns in beautiful gowns,
You'll see tailor-mades, and hand-me-downs
You'll meet honest men and pickpockets skilled,
You'll find that bus'ness never closes till somebody gets killed.

I'd rather be here than any place I know,
I'd rather be here than any place I know
It's goin' to take the Sargent
For to make me go,

Goin' to the river,
Maybe, bye and bye,
Goin' to the river, and there's a reason why,
Because the river's wet,
And Beale Street's gone dry.

You'll see Hog Nose rest'rants and Chitlin' Cafes,
You'll see Jugs that tell of by-gone days,
And places, once places, now just a sham,
You'll see Golden Balls enough to pave the New Jerusalem.

I'd rather be here than any place I know,
I'd rather be here than any place I know
It's goin' to take the Sargent
For to make me go,

If Beale Street could talk,
If Beale Street could talk,
Married men would have to take their beds and walk,
Except one or two who never drink booze,
And the blind man on the corner who sings the Beale Street Blues.

I'd rather be here than any place I know,
I'd rather be here than any place I know
It's goin' to take the Sargent
For to make me go,

Goin' to the river,
Maybe, bye and bye,
Goin' to the river, and there's a reason why,
Because the river's wet,
And Beale Street's gone dry.





Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!


Other Poems of Interest...
Home: PoetryExplorer.net