It used to be the grownups who played the blues
They told me "Mike, you gotta pay a whole lotta dues"
But it's a new world and now the children play
They say "Hold the rock 'n' roll, they're playin' young folks' blues today"
The latest little guy is rollin' and tumblin'
They say he sings like Wolf, plays like Hubert Sumlin
He's a mother, his mam is the first to agree
He's got the blues so bad, they wonder if he'll live to puberty
Young folks' blues, they're playing young folks' blues
I'll start my son when he's three, to pay his dues on MTV
Young folks' blues, hey!
I heard about a girl, child was pushin' eight
They say she sings like Koko Taylor, plays like Bonnie Raitt
You hear her troubles in every word she sings
She knows a lot about love, for a girl who hasn't had her first fling
We give a chance to the young folks, spreading the news
Paying their respects to the hero's of the blues
They reach new people, they may help the blues to thrive
And maybe some day our heroes will get paid while they're alive
Yes they will
The young folks' blues, I'm down with young folks' blues
I'll start my son when he's three, to pay his dues on MTV
Young folks' blues
Young folks' blues
Young folks' blues
Better early than never
I'm down with young folks' blues