Furry Sings the Blues - 2024 Remaster

Old Beale Street is coming down
Sweetie's snack bar, boarded up now and Eagles the Tailor
And the Shine Boy's gone, faded out with ragtime blues
Handy's cast in bronze, and he's standing in a little park
With his trumpet in his hand, like he's listening back to the good ol' bands
And the click of high-heeled shoes, old Furry sings the blues
Propped up in his bed with his dentures and his leg removed
And Ginny's there for her kindness, and Fury's beer
She's the old man's angel overseer

Pawn shops glitter like gold tooth caps
In the gray decay, they chew the last few dollars off old Beale Street's carcass
Carrion and mercy, blue and silver sparkling drums
Cheap guitars, eyeshades and guns, aimed at the hot blood of being no one
Down and out in Memphis, Tennessee, old Furry sings the blues
Bring him smoke and drink and he'll play for you
It's mostly muttering now and sideshow spiel
But there was one song he played I could really feel

(Fury's got nobody)
(Old Fury's got nobody)

There's a double bill murder at the new Daisy
The old girl's silent across the street
She's silent, waiting for the wrecker's beat
Silent, staring at her stolen name

Diamond boys and satin dolls, Bourbon laughter, ghosts
History falls to parking lots and shopping malls
As they tear down old Beale Street, old Furry sings the blues
He points a bony finger at you and says, "I don't like you!"
Everybody laughs as if it's the old man's standard joke
But it's true, we're only welcome for our drink and smoke

W.C. Handy, I'm rich, and I'm fey
And I'm not familiar with what you played but
I get such strong impressions of your hey-day
Looking up and down old Beale Street
Ghosts of the dark town society, come right out of the bricks at me

Like it's a Saturday night, they're in their finery
Dancing it up and making deals, Furry sings the blues
Why should I expect that old guy to give it to me true?
Fallen to hard luck, and time and other thieves
While our limo is shining on his shanty street
Old Furry sings the blues