FAREWELL TO STORYVILLE
Clarence Williams / Spencer Williams  1925

as rec by Helen Andrews w Kid Ory & his Creole Jazz Band  
Oct 16th 1946 Los Angeles

also rec by Billie Holiday w Louis Armstrong & his Orch '46


All you old time queens
>From New Orleans
Who live in Storyville,
Now you sang the blues,
Tried to amuse,
Here's how they pay the bill!

Now the law stepped in
and called it sin
Just to have a little fun;
The police cop
Has made us stop,
And Storyville is done!

Pick out your steamboat,
Pick yourself a train,
A slow old train!
Pick out your steamboat,
Pick yourself a train,
A slow old train!

They made you close up,
They'll never let you back,
They won't let you back!
Go buy your ticket,
Or else you'll walk the track!

No use complaining,
Blue skies follow rain,
The cold old rain!
No use complaining,
Blue skies follow rain,
The cold old rain!

Just say farewell now,
And get your one last thrill,
You one last thrill;
Just say farewell now,
Farewell to Storyville!

note:- Storyville - the red light district of New Orleans cleaned up by the authorities in the 1920's





(Contributed by Peter Akers - January 2010)