The Weary Blues By Langston Hughes

The speaker describes hearing a "Negro" play a "drowsy syncopated tune" while swaying back
and forth on Lenox Avenue a few nights ago, under the light of a gas lamp. The "Negro" lazily
sways to the Weary Blues, touching his ebony hands to the ivory keys and making his piano
"moan with melody."
Droning a drowsy syncopated tune, Ain’t got nobody but ma self.
Rocking back and forth to a mellow croon, I’s gwine to quit ma frownin’
I heard a Negro play. And put ma troubles on the shelf.”
Down on Lenox Avenue the other night
By the pale dull pallor of an old gas light Thump, thump, thump, went his foot on the
He did a lazy sway. . . . floor.
He did a lazy sway. . . . He played a few chords then he sang some
To the tune o’ those Weary Blues. more—
With his ebony hands on each ivory key “I got the Weary Blues
He made that poor piano moan with melody. And I can’t be satisfied.
O Blues! Got the Weary Blues
Swaying to and fro on his rickety stool And can’t be satisfied—
He played that sad raggy tune like a musical I ain’t happy no mo’
fool. And I wish that I had died.”
Sweet Blues! And far into the night he crooned that tune.
Coming from a black man’s soul. The stars went out and so did the moon.
O Blues! The singer stopped playing and went to bed
In a deep song voice with a melancholy tone While the Weary Blues echoed through his
I heard that Negro sing, that old piano moan— head.
“Ain’t got nobody in all this world, He slept like a rock or a man that’s dead.