Cab Calloway

[fox69]

"The Nightmare"

"The Nightmare"


Slumber, never comes around 'til dawn,
My head starts reeling,
I dream that I'm kneeling,
It seems that I'm kneeling on the ceiling of my room!

Nightmare, sure has got me in the air,
It's no use denying,
And there's no denying,
I dream that I'm dying and going in my tomb.

 

[fox69]

"The Old Man Of The Mountain"

"The Old Man Of The Mountain"


With his long white beard and a crooked staff,
He tramps along while the folks all laugh;
With a twinkle in his eye, he passes them by;
The Old Man of the Mountain.

He wears long hair and his feet are bare;
They say he's mad as an old march hare
But his cares are none, he owes no one.
The Old Man of the Mountain.

He talks with the birds when he's lonely;
He sleeps with the stars for a tent
The bees spread a feast when he's hungry,
And God charges no rent.

He'll live as long as an old oak tree
And laugh at fools like you and me.
Oh, I often sigh and wish that I
Were the Old Man of the Mountain.

 

[fox69]

"The Scat Song"

"The Scat Song"


When your sweetie tells you
Everything'll be okay
Just skeep-beep de bop-bop beep bop bo-dope
Skeetle-at-de-op-de-day

If you feel like shoutin'
Advertise it just this way
And skeep-beep de bop-bop beep bop bo-dope
Skeetle-at-de-op-de-day

Don't give a hang
What words you use at any time
Sing this silly language
Without any reason or rhyme

When you face the preacher
There's only one thing to say
Just skeep-beep de bop-bop beep bop bo-dope
Skeetle-at-de-op-day

 

[fox69]

"The Wedding Of Mr. And Mrs. Swing"

"The Wedding Of Mr. And Mrs. Swing"


Everybody's excited!
Everybody's invited!
Come along, and swing that thing,
It's the wedding of Mr. and Mrs. Swing!

Hear the clarinets tootin'!
Everybody's salutin'!
Come and meet the queen and king,
It's the wedding of Mr. and Mrs. Swing!

Swing high, there's joy in sight,
Swing low, from left to right,
Swing out, tonight's the night,
There's gonna be a lot of free and fancy swinging!

Say good-bye to your blueses,
Polish up your old shoeses,
Come and give your feet a fling,
It's the wedding of Mr. and Mrs. Swing!

It's the wedding of Mr. and Mrs. Swing!

Here comes the swingin' deacon! The swingin' deacon!
There's no use speakin'! There's no use speakin'!
The swingin' deacon is gettin' hot,
Just gettin' things ready to tie the knot!
"Do you take this woman for your lawful wife?"
"I do!"
"You do!"
"Do you promise to swing her for the rest of your life?"
"I do!"
"You do."
"Now, lookie here, gal, do you take this man by the name of Jim?"
"I do!"
"She do."
"Do you promise to swing with no one else but him?"
"I do!"
"You're crazy!"
Now the wedding ceremony's completed;
May your future swinging be bright!
I pronounce you Mr. and Mrs. Swing;
There'll be plenty of swingin' that thing tonight!

 

[fox69]

"The Worker's Train"

"The Worker's Train"


The eight-fifteen is the worker's train,
The eight-fifteen, and I'm off again,
The eight-fifteen is an awful pain;
Wish I didn't have to travel on the eight-fifteen!

The eight-fifteen going off uptown,
The eight-fifteen sort of brings me down,
The eight-fifteen always makes me frown,
Got to get up early for the daily eight-fifteen.

I'm happy on Sunday,
'Cause I can stay in bed till ten;
When I think of Monday,
I suffer 'cause I know that's when I get:

The eight-fifteen through the tunnel way,
The eight-fifteen, think I'll quit today,
The same routine, but I need the pay,
Better hurry, can't afford to miss the eight-fifteen!

 

[fox69]

"There's A Cabin In The Cotton"

"There's A Cabin In The Cotton"


There's a cabin in the southland
Where I long to go,
Little cabin in the cotton,
Where the cotton grows.

There's a cabin in the cotton,
Far away but not forgotten,
And in every recollection,
That's where my affection strays.

I got a feeling so sentimental
And I see a smile so gentle,
When I think of old Virginnie
And my pickaninny days.

We took the good and we took the evil,
Laughter and song and the old boll weevil,
Time has gone by, now here am I,
Wishing that I only knew:

How to wake up in the morning
In the cabin I was born in,
Little cabin in the cotton
I have not forgotten you.

 

[fox69]

"This Is Always"

"This Is Always"


This isn't sometime, this is always
This isn't maybe, this is always
This is love, the real beginning of forever
This isn't just midsummer madness
A passing glow, a moment's gladness
Yes, it's love, I knew it on the night we met

You tied a string around my heart
So how can I forget you?
With every kiss I know that this is always

 

[fox69]

"Trickeration"

"Trickeration"


Just follow me,
And you will see,
What folks in Harlem
Call Trickeration.

Don't mean a thing,
This crazy swing,
Latest thing in Harlem,
Trickeration!

Rhythm, look what you went and done,
Rhythm, you are the guilty one.

Another phrase,
Just another craze,
Everyone in Harlem
Does Trickeration.

 

[fox69]

"Utt Da Zay (The Tailor's Song)"

"Utt Da Zay (The Tailor's Song)"


My mother used to sing to me
A haunting little melody
Nobody knows where it came from
Or where it was composed

"Utt da zay", sings the tailor
As he fashions pretty clothes
"Utt da zay", sings the tailor
As he sews, sews, sews

He's as busy as a bee
Making lovely finery
Things my baby loves to wear
When I take her to the fair

"Utt da zay", sings the tailor
All it means is, "That's the way"
When I buy the things he made her
Says the tailor, "Utt da zay"

Oh, do you dig, dig, dig?
Do you chop, chop, chop?
Are you hep to this jive
That I'm laying to you?

 

[fox69]

"Wake Up And Live"

"Wake Up And Live"


Wake up and live
Don't mind the rainy patter

You'll find
It's mind over matter

Dark clouds will break up
If you wake up and live

It's what is

[Scat]

Wake up and live
Show the stuff you're made of

Just follow through
What are you affraid of

You'll try it won't ya
Say won't ya wake up an live

Come out your shell, hey fella
Find your place in the sun

Come out your shell, say man
Just be a go getter

Send em on up

[Scat]

Won't ya wake up and live
If lady luck is yawnin'

Up on your toes
A better day is dawning

Don't let em
Get up and give

Get, get yourself a shakeup
And wake up and live