Uptown Vocal Jazz Quartet - Hustlin' for a Gig Lyrics

Hustlin for a gig
Harder than it oughta be
Hustlin for a gig
What a crazy lottery
So many cats around that you can hear the sound
Of pavement bein pounded
Hustlin for a gig.
Hustlin for a gig (Wonder wheres the gig for me)
Its all about hyperbole
Got to sell it big (Scene aint what it used to be)
Visually and verbally
You got to draw a crowd (Weve become a novelty)
And play the music loud
And dont be too high-browed, or youll forever be
Hustlin for a gig.
No, no, it isnt the same out here, no not like when the
Cats blew the blues all night long in the pocket
(Now everyones got a pocket full of music)
And folks would watch those cats really rock it
They would be groovin to what the band said, now
Instead of just groovin inside of their head, now.
Well I know that you got to swing
Every cats got to do his thing
You can take it out to the street
People walkin will dig your beat
Just remember this pearl of wis
Dont be quittin your daytime biz!
This crazy business just comes and goes
You might be thinkin it thumbs its nose
At all the cats who are hot to play,
Who got to say what they got to say
The gigs just aint what you guessed theyd be,
You might be playin your best for free.
Hustlin for a gig
Lord I wasnt made for it
Used to be a gig (Dont flip)
I was born too late for it. (Stay hip)
Got no melismatic smear, no candy for the ear, (Its a necessary trip)
I guess Ill still be out here next year,
Hustlin for a gig.