“The Weary Blues” (1925)
Langston Hughes
Artie Matthews’ “Weary Blues”
• Artie Matthews (1885-1958) was
the first to publish a ragtime song:
“Baby Seal’s Blues” in 1912.
• Published “Weary Blues” in 1915.
• Had become a huge hit by the
time Langston Hughes wrote the
poem alluding to it.
 Matthews’ “Weary Blues” was
played & recorded by some of
the best musicians in the
business:
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Louis "Sachmo" Armstrong
Sidney Bechet
King Oliver
Erskine Hawkins
Jelly Roll Morton
The Dorsey Brothers Orchestra
Even by Lawrence Welk and the
McGuire Sisters.
 Most popular recording is the
Louis Armstrong instrumental
rendition recorded in Chicago
on May 11, 1927.
“The Weary Blues” Lyrics (1915)
Well, I know that things won’t be the same,
And I know that you’re the one to blame,
When you broke my heart and made me cry;
I am gonna bid my weary blues goodbye.
Weary blues have made me cry.
Well, these weary blues I’m gonna bid goodbye.
I know, I won’t forget you but I’ll try.
You know I am gonna bid my weary blues goodbye.
Well, I know that things won’t be the same,
And I know that you’re the one to blame,
When you broke my heart and made me cry;
I am gonna bid my weary blues goodbye.
Weary blues have made me cry.
Well, these weary blues I’m gonna bid goodbye.
I know, I won’t forget you but I’ll try.
I am gonna bid my weary blues goodbye.
I am gonna bid my weary blues goodbye.
The Blues
• Musical form originated in African-American
communities, primarily in Deep South at the end of the
19th century.
• Grew from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts
and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads.
• Basic twelve-bar lyric framework of a blues composition
is reflected by a standard harmonic progression of twelve
bars in a 4/4 time signature.
• Blues chords in a twelve-bar blues are typically a set of
three different chords played over a twelve-bar scheme.
“Lonesome Blues,” recorded by Louis Armstrong in 1927
Hughes’ “The Weary Blues”
• Busboy Langston Hughes
placed a copy of his poem
“Weary Blues” with
“Jazzonia,” and “Negro
Dancers” near the plate
of performance poet
Vachel Lindsay in the
opulent dining room of
the Wardman Park Hotel
in 1925.
“Weary Blues” wins First Prize
• Opportunity: Journal Of Negro Life
published 1923 to 1949.
• Editor Charles S. Johnson aimed to
give voice to black culture, hitherto
neglected by mainstream American
publishing.
• To encourage young writers to
submit their work, Johnson
sponsored three literary contests.
• 1925, Hughes wins first prize for his
poem “The Weary Blues”.
• 1925 winners also included Zora
Neale Hurston & Countee Cullen.
Vachel Linsdey (1879-1931)
• Performance poet considered the father of
modern singing poetry.
• Intended to revive the musical qualities in
poetry as had been practiced by the
ancient Greeks.
• Although the son of a wealthy doctor, at
26 moved to NYC where he attempted to
barter his poems for food on the streets.
• Considered himself an advocate of
African-Americans, his poetry presents
uneven portraits of African-American
culture, drawing praise & censure.
• His 1915 poem “The Congo” was his
most famous—and most controversial—
work.
Hughes/Mingus/Feather collaboration
• 1958, Langston Hughes
teamed up with jazz
legends Charles Mingus
& Leonard Feather to
create a work in which
Hughes would recite
his poetry to jazz &
gospel.
Down on Lenox Avenue
• Lenox Avenue is main thoroughfare in Harlem, running
from Central Park to 147th St.
• Lenox Avenue eventually became dotted with hundreds
of bars & nightclubs where musicians played ragtime,
blues, & popular dance music.
• As Lenox Avenue clubs grew in popularity, nightclubs such as the Savoy
Ballroom (late 20’s-1958), the Lennox Lounge (1939-present), & the
whites-only Cotton Club (1920-1940) boomed.
Lennox Lounge
• Lenox Lounge featured jazz
greats such as Billie Holiday,
Miles Davis, & John Coltrane.
• Langton Hughes frequented the
Lenox Lounge, as did James
Baldwin & Malcolm X.
• Middle-class African-Americans
& affluent whites flocked to
Harlem.
• Most affluent whites stopped
going to Harlem after 1943
Harlem riots.
Irving Berlin’s original 1928 lyrics to “Puttin’ on the
Ritz” referred to Lenox Avenue, not Park Avenue.
Original 1928 lyrics
Lyrics revised for 1946 film Blue Skies starring Fred Astaire
Have you seen the well-to-do up on Lenox Avenue
On that famous thoroughfare with their noses in the air
High hats and colored collars, white spats and fifteen dollars
Spending every dime for a wonderful time
Have you seen the well-to-do up and down Park Avenue
On that famous thoroughfare with their noses in the air
High hats and Arrow collars, white spats and lots of dollars
Spending every dime for a wonderful time
If you're blue and you don't know where to go to
Why don't you go where Harlem sits
Puttin' on the ritz
If you're blue and you don't know where to go to
Why don't you go where fashion sits
Puttin' on the ritz
Spangled gowns upon a bevy of high browns
From down the levee, all misfits
Puttin' on the ritz
Diff'rent types who wear a day coat, pants with stripes
And cutaway coat, perfect fits
Puttin' on the ritz
That's where each and every lulubelle goes
Ev'ry Thursday evening with her swell beaus
Rubbing elbows
Dressed up like a million dollar trouper
Trying hard to look like Gary Cooper
Super duper
Come with me and we'll attend their jubilee
And see them spend their last two bits
Puttin' on the ritz
Come let's mix where Rockefellers walk with sticks
Or "um-ber-ellas" in their mitts
Puttin’ on the ritz
LENOX AVENUE: MIDNIGHT
Langston Hughes
The rhythm of life
Is a jazz rhythm,
Honey.
The gods are laughing at us.
The broken heart of love,
The weary, weary heart of pain,—
Overtones,
Undertones,
To the rumble of street cars,
To the swish of rain.
Lenox Avenue,
Honey.
Midnight,
And the gods are laughing at us.