I gotta right to sing the blues, I gotta right to feel low-down,

I gotta right t' hang around, down around the river . . .



A certain gal in this ol' town, keeps draggin' my poor heart around,

All I see for me, is misery . . .



I gotta right to sing the blues, I gotta right to moan and sigh,

I gotta right to sit and cry, down around the river . . .



I kno' the deep blue sea, will soon be callin' me,

It must be love, say what you choose,

I gotta right to sing the blues! ( doo doo, doo doo doo, doo doo, doo doo doo )



( He's gotta right to sing the blues ) I gotta right to sing the blues!

( He's gotta right to moan and sigh ) I gotta right t' moan and sigh!

( He's gotta right to sit an' cry ) sit an' cryin' down along the river!



I kno' the deep blue sea, will soon be callin' me,

It must be love, say what you choose,

I gotta right to sing the blues . . . the blues,

I gotta right ( the right! ) tonight ( tonight! )

I gotta right to sing the blues! ( doo doo, doo doo, doo wah! )



Music by Harold Arlen

with lyrics by Ted Koehler, 1932