Blue Monk (From "Straight Ahead") - Abbey Lincoln

Going' alone, life is your own, but the cost sometimes is dear

Being complete, knowing defeat, keeping on from year to year

It takes some doing, monkery’s the blues you hear, keeping on from year to year

Life is a school, less' your a fool, but the learning brings you pain

Knowing at once, you’re just a dunce, trail and error loss and gain

It takes some doing, monkery’s a slow slow train, trail and error loss and gain

Finding your one Place in the sun, Doesn’t come the easy way

Shallow or deep, Nothing is cheap, Measured by the dues you pay

It takes some doing, Monkery’s a blue highway, Measured by the dues you pay