Ballad for Very Tired and Very Sad Lotus Eaters is a jazz instrumental ballad written by Billy Strayhorn. It was first recorded and released by Johnny Hodges and The Ellington All-Stars Without Duke in 1956-1957, with the initial recording dated September 1, 1956 and the first release in 1957. The piece features Hodges on alto sax in a moody, lyrical setting and is associated with Duke Ellington’s circle, though performed by the Ellington All-Stars without Duke on the release. It has been issued and reinterpreted by numerous artists over the years and appears on compilations such as The Complete Verve Small Sessions 1956-1961 (2011). A 2014 Discogs release titled For Very Sad and Very Tired Lotus Eaters shows the tune’s continued influence in modern jazz lineups, and an adaptation titled Bittersweet by Roger Schore was issued in 2000.
