Electric Light Orchestra - Birmingham Blues Lyrics






Working on the road across this great big world
I've been rolling like a stone, I never get back home
Yes, I've been long-gone
And boy, I've got the Birmingham Blues.

Been across the ocean to the south sea isles
Yeah, I travelled to the east and west for mile and miles and miles
And I've been long-gone
And boy, I've got the Birmingham Blues.

[Chorus:]
Across the world I've seen
People and places
Could be the same
But with a different name.

I wouldn't change the things I do for anything
But I'd just like to hear the message of the streets again
Give me a ticket
Cause boy, I've got the Birmingham Blues.

It may be kind of homely but it sure is sweet
Industrial Revolution put it on its feet
But it's a long, long way
Boy, I've got the Birmingham Blues.

[Chorus]

I'll go and stay awhile and all the folks I meet
They'll say "You won't stay long, you got them travelling feet
You'll soon be long-gone
'Cos boy, you got the rest of the world blues!"

[Chorus 2x]





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Electric Light Orchestra Birmingham Blues Comments
  1. S.... T....

    The first ten second opening of Birmingham Blues has to be one of their greatest orchestral pieces!

  2. N.... ....

    This whole album was like a really good acid trip

  3. M.... ....

    I don’t understand how their songs get thumbs down!!!!!! Theirs songs are awesome!!!!!!!

  4. E.... G....

    This song makes me not have the blues

  5. �.... �....

    я люблю ело

  6. J.... B....

    What does Jeff shout at the start? Is it a Brummy thing?

  7. D.... H....

    I just fucking love ELO........

  8. A.... t....

    In year 6 we were learning about the history of Birmingham. For one of our tasks we had to choose someone from birmingham and write about them. I chose Jeff Lynne because
    1) I love ELO
    And 2) Why not
    I got best in class
    Yeah Brummies 😊

  9. j.... ....

    'Let's 'ave ya!'

  10. B.... B....

    2:31 to 2:49 is just amazing

  11. P.... D....

    I swear that strings part is from Rhapsody in Blue... 1:42

    P.... D....

    Yes! Yes! That's exactly what I was thinking! I thought I was crazy because I couldn't remember the name of the song, but that's definitely it.

  12. D.... H....

    Possibly one of the best things my ears have ever been subjected to.......a GREAT GREAT ALBUM...sincere genuine and very BRITISH!!!(lol)..........God I wish I had a time machine to go back to 1977.....Britain wasnt such a bad place.............

  13. B.... C....

    Love this song. i wish it made longer than the 4 minutes and 24 seconds it was recorded in the final take it was released.

  14. D.... t....

    Working on the road across
    This great big world
    Yeah, I've been rolling like a stone
    I never get back home
    Yes, I've been long-gone
    Boy, I've got the Birmingham Blues

    I've been across the ocean
    To the south sea isles
    Yeah, I travelled to the east and west
    For miles and miles and miles
    And I've been long-gone
    Boy, I've got the Birmingham Blues

    Across the world (across the world)
    People and places (people and places)
    Could be the same (everywhere I've been)
    But with a different name

    Oh, I wouldn't change the things
    I do for anything
    But I'd just like to hear the message
    Of the streets again
    Give me a ticket
    'Cause boy, I've got the Birmingham Blues


    It may be kind of homely
    But it sure is sweet
    Industrial Revolution
    Put it on its feet
    But it's a long, long way
    Boy, I've got the Birmingham Blues

    Across the world (across the world)
    People and places (people and places)
    Could be the same (everywhere I've been)
    But with a different name

    I'll go and stay a while
    And all the folks I meet
    They'll say, "You won't stay long
    You got them travellin' feet
    You'll soon be long-gone
    'Cause boy, you got the rest of the world blues."

    Across the world (across the world) I've seen
    People and places (people and places)
    Everywhere I've been (don't you know it could be the same?)
    But with a different name

    Across the world
    People and places (people and places)
    Everywhere I've been


    Across the world (across the world)
    People and places (people and places)
    Could be the same (everywhere I've been)
    But you know, it's got a different name

    Across the world
    People and places
    Everywhere I've been...

  15. J.... R....

    At 4:05 , what is sung after "And You Know Its Got A Different Name" ? Is it "Brummie !"

    J.... R....

    I always thought it was "Okay!"

  16. D.... P....

    By so far, the BEST song on this album, the chorus is just a liquid gold, and the final strings send me shivers down my spine every time

  17. D.... S....

    I love de chorus deam god

  18. R.... ....

    It's obvious where the name of the song Birmingham Blues came from.

    R.... ....

    Birmingham?

    R.... ....

    Alum Rock?..........

    R.... ....

    He never said the answer

  19. K.... R....

    It could have been on Guardians of the Galaxy.

    K.... R....

    What???

    K.... R....

    The first time I heard the song I thought the exact same thing.

    K.... R....

    Anything ELO did in the 1970s could've been in 'Guardians of the Galaxy'.

    K.... R....

    **Establishing shot on spaceship intensifies**

  20. B.... B....

    This was always my least favorite of the album and I don't quite know why. It's not even bad.

    B.... B....

    I think everyone has a least favourite as well as top favourite on all CD albums, even if the track in question isn't bad ... It's just down to what really clicks with your personal taste.

  21. A.... J....

    thank you, dad

    A.... J....

    Ana JKL what?

    A.... J....

    @Francisco Raúl Rodríguez Lopez he probably is thanking his dad for introducing him to this music

    A.... J....

    @lime that's sad

    A.... J....

    And my brother, he turned me on to ELO and MOODY BLUES!!

  22. Y.... ....

    Dude, this legit sounds like a hell of a acid trip to be on

  23. R.... G....

    Play it Loud and Play It Proud! I'm still waiting for that Wurlitzer saucer to touch down!

  24. D.... ....

    Brilliant. As I said under other E.L.O videos, Jeff Lynne simply just doesn't have the genes to make bad music..:)

  25. A.... R....

    One of my all time favorites. Jeff Lynne and his lineup got it go'in on.

  26. H.... O....

    Love the gershwin influence

    H.... O....

    I think there's a saying in the music biz and showbiz in general: "If you're gonna steal, steal from the best!"

  27. -.... ....

    Buena rola putoss!!!!!!

    -.... ....

    Tremenda papá!

  28. R.... G....

    Another perfect melding of musical styles - this time blues and classical - from the absolute master, Jeff Lynn! Shame on music critics of the 70's who bad-mouthed this band, and you know who you are!

  29. J.... M....

    A stunning track, vilified by many ELO were so surely uncool that they were cool! Sweet Talkin' Woman to Don't Bring Me Down were the glory years! Great music for the teenage years.

  30. A.... ....

    Why are the previous 4 videos blocked in Spain? this messed up the album and i was having nice childhood memories... -.-

    A.... ....

    Also in Spain they blocked the Twilight, So serious and Calling America videos...

    A.... ....

    @Kevin's Rock Reviews Hey, I live in America! They're unblocked here! So, not my problem!

    A.... ....

    Kevin's Rock Reviews blocked here in england too

  31. L.... M....

    Jeff Lynne..............................Musical Genius!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    L.... M....

    No doubt...This is a man with....I just have no words.
    Gave me so much joy in my life, and still continuing, on and on, and on, and on...etc...

    L.... M....

    Jeff Lynne is the Bob Ross of music

    L.... M....

    Along w/many, many others!

  32. A.... B....

    I remember hearing this when it first came out on 8-track

  33. C.... B....

    Across the world...

    C.... B....

    Chemical Brother people and places

  34. D.... ....

    I personally think song, Birmingham Blues, should have been released as a single. Outstanding hook on this one, and it's a fun to sing along to. They missed it by not releasing as a single. Does anyone agree with me?

    D.... ....

    perhaps they thought 4:24 run time was too long

    D.... ....

    Even 3 years later, I agree. Totally chart music material.

    D.... ....

    OMG! That guitar after the chorus is się simply genius!

    D.... ....

    why not just buy the album and get ALL the songs?

    D.... ....

    it was a double record
    I own an original

  35. J.... C....

    As a kid I wondered why more of this album never made it to the singles charts. I listened to this album over and over and over again. Had the cardboard cut out all set up next to my turntable and imagined a future that was infinitely cooler than the drudgery that was my late 70's.

    J.... C....

    @Aaren understand. music always changes, sometimes not for the better. especially when it relates to money for those who make a lot of it for less expense. this is how rap got its popularity in music industry. u dont need 12 semi trucks to carry all the equipment to a concert. Music prior to 90s still popular today for a reason. hey my kids are in their 20s, they like it as well.

    J.... C....

    bad dad yes exactly and buddy your not alone

    J.... C....

    ren Don't think you're special!

    J.... C....

    I lived in Birmingham, Alabama and there was one album rock station (K-99 WRKK) that made this song a local anthem.

    J.... C....

    I am a 68 model, and I've been listening to this stuff through the 70s 80s and 90s and now