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! )