Talking about Literary Swing, here's some old lyrics from some popular dance tunes from the 30's.
"Doug the jitterbug,
Just a silly lug,
Young and wild with lots of style,
That's Doug the jitterbug!
...
They threw him out of school
'Cause all he learned was Tiger Rag,
He never knew the golden rule,
But boy, how he can shag!
...
Doug the jitterbug,
Cuts a wicked rug,
..."
(Louis Jordan, "Doug the Jitterbug", '39)
"... This piggie likes roast beef, but this piggy likes to lindy all the way home... and the Booglie Wooglie Piggy boogies all the way home" (Will Bradley, "Booglie Wooglie Piggy")
"If I could lindy like Melindy when she lindy hops,
She makes all cats in the ballroom stop;
Hmmm, just look at that style and grace,
How that gal keeps up that pace!
Now, if I could lindy like Melindy when she lindy hops,
She won't even stop if you call the cops!
Just look at the twinkle in her eye!
Ahh, how that dress quivers around her thigh!
Now, if I could lindy like Melindy when she lindy hops,
Makes all cats in the ballroom stop;
Look at him throw her out and bring her in!
Now, the way them cats dance is a sin!"
(Lil Hardin Armstrong , "Lindy Hop", '37)
"Posin'!
Oh, posin'!
Dee-dee, fall-e-oh!
There's a dance you ought to do,
Let me introduce to you,
Posin'!
Everybody pose!
Get a partner, then begin,
Hold whatever pose you're in,
Posin'!
Everybody pose!
It's a dance that you can dance with your girl or wife;
Find a pose, then stop; position's everything in life!
You'll find there's no telling when
Dance will stop and start again,
Posin'!
Everybody pose!
Frozen, posin', on-j'mosin'!
Lozin', tosin', ten cents-a-dozin',
Whatta ya mean? Whatta-ya mean I'm speedin'?
I'm just gettin' ready to cut out!
Exactly bop-de-bop-de-body-doh!
Dance will start, stop again,
I'm liable to cut out, and start again!
Now you see, those cats are posin'!
Yeah! Now you see, I'm posin'!"
(Jimmie Lunceford, "Poisin", '37)
"Come on, get set for the party,
Tomorrow night at the Swing Cats' Hall,
Come on, let them send your body
At the Swing Cats' Ball.
...
Some will shag while others drag,
Some will bump while others jump.
Park Avenue will do their swinging,
Tomorrow night at the Swing Cats' Hall,
You can't refuse to join in swinging
At the Swing Cats' Ball.
(Russell Campbell,"At the Swing Cats' Ball", '39)
"...Forgive me, miss,
I must insist
You can't resist,
If you feel like this!
'Cause I can't dance,
I got ants in my pants,
Now, I can't dance,
Got ants in my pants!..."
)Charlie Gaines, "I Can't Dance, I Got Ants in My Pants", '34)
"Born to dance? No!
Born to prance? No!
Born to sing? No!
Well, you must be born to swing! Yeah!
I'm just an ordinary gal, that was born to swing!
[Scats]
Now all the gals on Park Avenue have a high-brow song to sing,
But I'll stay here on Lennox Avenue, where I was born to swing.
Now, some folks got plenty money, some folks got philosophy,
But I've got good old swing, and it's good enough for me!
So with a song on my lips, and rhythm in my hips,
I can't go wrong, having my fling,
'Cause I was born to swing!..."
(Lil Hardin Armstrong, "Born to Swing", '37)
"Now, come gather 'round us, folks,
Let us tell you 'bout this swing,
Let us tell you 'bout the dance was invented just for you!
Now, you swing over here,
Now, you swing over there,
For you swing on out and you do the Suzie-Q!
Oh, you dance in!
Yes, you're prancin'!
When you hear the music play, that's your cue!
Yes, you're truckin'!
Doin' the shim-sham,
Then you swing on out and you're doin' the Suzie-Q!
Now, stop unless you do forget,
You ain't seen nothin' yet,
Until you see this dance that's new!
Now, you truck over here, you swing over there,
You tip just like you're walkin' on air,
Then you're doin' the Suzie-Q!
Now, hot step new that you will give 'em,
Good old pep and low-down rhythm!
Now, come and give yourself a treat,
Watch these babies shake their feet,
What they're doin'? They're doin' the Suzie-Q!"
(Lil Hardin Armstrong, "Doin the Suzie-Q", '36)
"I work at the Palace Ballroom,
But gee, that palace is cheap,
When I get back to my chilly hallroom,
I'm much too tired to sleep.
I'm one of those lady teachers,
A beautiful hostess, you know,
The kind the Palace features
At exactly a dime a throw.
Ten cents a dance, that's what they pay me,
Gosh, how they weigh me down;
Ten cents a dance, pansies and rough guys,
Tough guys who tear my gown.
...
Sometimes I think I've found my hero,
But it's a queer romance;
All that you need is a ticket;
Come on, big boy, ten cents a dance.
Fighters and sailors and bowlegged tailors
Can pay for a ticket and rent me;
Butchers and barbers and rats from the harbor
Are sweethearts my good luck has sent me.
...
Ten cents a dance, that's what they pay me,
Gosh, how they weigh me down;
Ten cents a dance, pansies and rough guys,
Tough guys who tear my gown.
...
Sometimes I think I've found my hero,
But it's a queer romance;
All that you need is a ticket;
Come on, big boy, ten cents a dance.
(Richard Rodgers, "Ten cents a dance", '30)
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By HopMichael on Saturday, January 29, 2000 - 12:09 pm: Edit
