I'm the Belle of the Blues and it's easy to see
If I win or I lose. It's all one to me.
I was born on a shelf in the rare books library,
I reside by myself with my books and my T.V.

I'm an old age pension for the fossilized routine.
Anybody for nostalgia? Put a record on and see.
Here's a memory of olden days and a heartbreak grown cold.
All that glitters isn't gold.
You get no love for free.

You live and you die,
And I'll prob'bly throw it away.
But in the end it's mine,
And nobody has a right to say,
"Go down lightly, go down silently."
I'll go down screaming,
"'Give it back, it belongs to me.'"

I'm the Belle of the Blues, I'm used to mingling
With the creme de la creme of higher society.
I promise them roses and an eight-by-ten of me,
But when the party's over they're all too glad to leave.

Their children sing of sorrow,
It's the same old routine.
They've begged and they've borrowed
Someone else's misery.
Find more similar lyrics on http://mp3lyrics.com/cH7RIt's an easy act to follow,
At least, an easy one for me.
Give me my tomorrows,
You can have my memories.

Souvenirs from an old-fashioned school,
Plays coquette on the pillow,
Like an old-fashioned fool.
Go down lightly.
Go down silently.
You go down lonely.
You go down like me.

I'm the Belle of the Blues.
Mmmm-mmm-mmm-mmm-mmm-mmmmm.

BELLE OF THE BLUES
Written by: Janis Ian
Performed by-Janis Ian-1975
Appears on: Aftertones-1975 & (Bonus Track)-20041, Up 'Til Now-1992 &
Souvenirs: Best of Janis Ian 1972-1981 (US-CD)-2004, (Japan-CD)-2004 &
(CD/DVD)-2006.

1Transcribed from the track on this album.

Copyright © Janis Ian/her co-writer(s) if any/their publisher(s).
All rights reserved.