Ray Charles

[fox69]

"Makin' Whoopee!"

"Makin' Whoopee!"


Another bride, Another June
Another sunny honeymoon
Another season, Another reason
To make whoopee

A lot of shoes, a lot of rice
The groom is nervous, uhh, he answers twice
Its really killin', the boy's so willin'
To make whoopee, whoopee
Picture a little love nest, yeah
Down where the roses cling
Picture that same sweet love nest
See what a year can bring
I tell you the boy's washin' dishes 'n, baby clothes
He's so ambitious, ooh, I tell you he sews
Its really killin', the boy's so willin'
To make whoopee, whoopee
You see, I don't make much money
Only five, uh-uh, thousand per
And some judge who thinks he's funny
Tells me I got to pay six to her
I said now judge, suppose I fail?
The judge says, "Ray, son, son, right on into jail.
Ah, you better keep her. I think it's cheaper."

[Spoken:] You know what I've been doin', don't you?
[Crowd goes wild]

 

[fox69]

"Manhattan"

"Manhattan"


Summer journeys to Niag'ra
And to other places aggra-
Vate all our cares.
We'll save our fares!
I've a cozy little flat in
What is known as old Manhattan
We'll settle down
Right here in town!
We'll have Manhattan
The Bronx and Staten
Island too.
It's lovely going through
The zoo!
It's very fancy
On old Delancy
Street you know.
The subway charms us so
When balmy breezes blow
To and fro.
And tell me what street
Compares with Mott Street
In July?
Sweet pushcarts gently gli-ding by.
The great big city's a wonderous toy
Just made for a girl and boy.
We'll turn Manhattan
Into an isle of joy!
We'll go to Yonkers
Where true love conquers
In the whiles
And starve together dear, in Chiles
We'll go to Coney
And eat baloney on a roll
In Central Park we'll stroll
Where our first kiss we stole
Soul to soul
And "My Fair Lady" is a terrific show they say
We both may see it close, some day
The city's glamour can never spoil
The dreams of a boy and goil
We'll turn Manhattan
Into an isle of joy!

[Another version:]

Summer journeys to Niag'ra
And to other places aggra-
Vate all our cares.
We'll save our fares;
I've a cozy little flat in
What is known as old Manhattan,
We'll settle down
Right here in town.

We'll have Manhattan,
The Bronx and Staten
Island too.
It's lovely going through the Zoo.
It's very fancy
On old Delancey
Street you know.
The subway charms us so,
When balmy breezes blow
To and fro.
And tell me what street
Compares with Mott Street
In July?
Sweet pushcarts gently gliding by.
The great big city's a wondrous toy
Just made for a girl and boy --
We'll turn Manhattan
Into an isle of joy.

We'll go to Greenwich,
Where modern men itch
To be free,
And Bowling Green you'll see with me.
We'll bathe at Brighton,
The fish you'll frighten
When you're in,
Your bathing suit so thin
Will make the shellfish grin,
Fin to fin.
I'd like to take a
Sail on Jamaica
Bay with you,
And fair Canarsie's Lakes we'll view.
The city's bustle cannot destroy
The dreams of a girl and boy --
We'll turn Manhattan
Into an isle of joy.

We'll go to Yonkers,
Where true love conquers
In the wilds
And starve together, dear, in Childs'.
We'll go to Coney
And eat bologny
On a roll,
In Central Park we'll stroll
Where our first kiss we stole,
Soul to soul.
And South Pacific
Is a terrific
Show they say,
We both may see it close some day.
The city's clamour can never spoil
The dreams of a boy and goil --
We'll turn Manhattan
Into an isle of joy.

We'll have Manhattan,
The Bronx and Staten
Island too,
We'll try to cross Fifth Avenue.
As black as onyx
We'll find the Bronix
Park Express,
Our Flatbush flat, I guess,
Will be a great success,
More or less.
A short vacation
On Inspiration
Point we'll spend,
And in the station house we'll end.
But Civic Virtue cannot destroy
The dreams of a girl and boy --
We'll turn Manhattan
Into an isle of joy!

 

[fox69]

"Margie"

"Margie"


My little Margie
I'm always thinking of you, Margie
I'll tell the world I love you so
So don't forget your promise to me
I have bought a home and ring and everything

For Margie
You are my inspiration
Days are never blue
After all is said and done
There is really only one
And Margie, Margie it's you

After all is said and done
There is really only one
And Margie,
Oh Margie,
Margie it's you, you, you

 

[fox69]

"Marie"

"Marie"


Marie, the dawn is breaking
Marie, you'll soon be waking
To find your heart is aching
And tears will fall as you recall

The moon, in all its splendor
A kiss, so very tender
The words "Will you surrender
To me?" woah my Marie

The moon, in all its splendor
A kiss, so very tender
The words "Will you surrender
To me?" woah my Marie

Oh, my Marie

 

[fox69]

"Mary Ann"

"Mary Ann"


Well now, oh Mary Ann
Well you sure look fine
Well, oh oh now
I could love you all the time

Well, now oh Mary Ann
I said baby, don't ya know
Well now, oh oh baby
Don't ya know

Don't ya know baby
That I love you so

Oh yeah, Mary Ann
Gonna take you home tonight
Oh baby, yeah, yeah
Gonna take you home tonight
If you let me baby
I said I'll make everything all right

 

[fox69]

"Max And Frieda - Silver Wedding Anniversary"

"Max And Frieda - Silver Wedding Anniversary"


1911 for his parents' 25th Wedding Anniversary,
First known surviving lyric.
Music to the tune of Irving Berlin's, "Alexander's Ragtime Band"

Oh, my hubby, put your hat on.
Better hurry, the taxi's waiting.
We are going, surely going
To the big array-Silver Wedding Day.
Better hurry, better hurry-
Lord, we don't want to come too late, dear.
Come now, somehow, better hurry along.

So clink your glass, each lad and lass,
For Max and Frieda's wedding day.
Put on a smile, make life worthwhile-
Let each wrinkle shout Hooray!
For life is much too short and time will always fly-
One, two, twenty-five, the years go rolling by.
This is the bestest night of all-let the laughter fall.
Years of joy, Max a boy, at full two score is well.
And Mrs. Hart still plays her part,
Though her age I dare not tell.
But if you want to make the evening seem like the dear old times,
Clink your glass each lad and lass,
To Max and Frieda's wedding day.

Way, way back, dear, '86 dear,
Things were not just like they are now, dear-
I was young, dear, you were young, dear,
And we didn't plan to help the census man.
Silver streaks, dear, in my hair, dear,
But our hearts, dear, are as young as ever.
Come now, somehow, jolly up and be young.

In diesen Haus lass Saus und Braus
Konige von allem sein.
Drink a pile, it's worth your while,
Hab die Katz im Morgenschein.
For life is much too short and the years are rolling by-
Eins, zwei, funf-und-zwanzig,
Let the old times fly.
This in the bestest night of all-
Let the laughter fall.
Nur einmal ist es erlaubt,
Dass der Mensch gut leben kann.
Die Zeit fliegt ja und Sorg beraubt
Alle Jugend von dem Mann.
So if you want to make the evening seem like the dear old times.
Clink your glass, each lad and lass,
Zu der Silberfestigung.

 

[fox69]

"Me And The Ghost Upstairs"

"Me And The Ghost Upstairs"


Once upon a midnight dreary
While I pondered weak and weary
From a long trip on the Erie
Comes a rappin' on my chamber door
It's an ectoplasmic tapping
That disturbs my nightly napping
Like a shroud that's gently flapping
Emanating from the second floor.
Buddies are we, me and the ghost upstairs
Sipping our tea, me and the ghost upstairs
But he's inclined to moan when left alone
So I think of things that'll tickle his funny bone
Lonely old ghost upstairs
Regular folks, droppin' our worldly cares
Swappin' our jokes, me and the ghost upstairs
And then she slaps his shroud and laughs out loud
And says "Oh boy, that'll paralyze all the crowd!"
Jolly old ghost upstairs
He's quite a cook
He serves a beautiful drink
He wrote a book
And in invisible ink
I took a look
And the title 'pon the page
Was "The Groups of Wraith"
Once in a while he brings a a gang of friends
Does it in style, careless of what he spends
And though the place is small we have a ball
'Cuz you know those spooks don't require no room at all
We have some mighty fine affairs me and the ghost upstairs
We have some mighty fine affairs me and the ghost upstairs

 

[fox69]

"Mess Around"

"Mess Around"


Ah, you can talk about the pit, barbecue
The band was jumpin', the people too
Ah, mess around
They doin' the mess around
They doin' the mess around,
Everybody doin' the mess around
Ah, everybody was juiced, you can, bet your soul
They did the boogie-woogie, with a sturdy roll (?)
They mess around
They doin' the mess around
They doin' the mess around,
Everybody doin' the mess around
Now, ah, when I say stop don't you move a peg
When I say go, just ah, shake your leg
And do the mess around
I declare, do the mess around
Yeah do the mess around,
Everybody's doin' the mess around
Now let me have it there boy

[Piano Solo]

Now you got it boy

[Sax Solo]

(Yeah, ah, mess around, go on mess around)
(Mess around, boy)
Now this band's goin' to play from, 9 to 1
Everybody here's gonna have some fun
Doin' the mess around
Ah, doin' the mess around
They doin' the mess around,
Everybody doin' the mess around
Now you see that girl, with that, diamond ring
She knows how to, shake that thing
Mess around
I declare, she can mess around
Ah, mess around,
Everybody do the mess around

 

[fox69]

"Midnight Sun"

"Midnight Sun"


Your lips were like a red and ruby chalice, warmer than the summer night
The clouds were like an alabaster palace rising to a snowy height.
Each star it's own aurora borealis, suddenly you held me tight,
I could see the Midnight Sun.
I can't explain the silver rain that found me--or was that a moonlight veil?
The music of the universe around me, or was that a nightingale?
And then your arms miraculously found me,suddenly the sky turned pale,
I could see the Midnight Sun.
Was there such a night, it's a thrill I still don't quite believe,
But after you were gone, there was still some stardust on my sleeve.
The flame of it may dwindle to an ember, and the stars forget to shine,
And we may see the meadow in December, icy white and crystalline.
But oh my darling always I'll remember when your lips were close to mine,
And we saw the Midnight Sun.

 

[fox69]

"Mimi"

"Mimi"


My left shoe's on my right foot,
My right shoe's on my left.
Oh! listen to me Mimi,
Of reason I'm bereft!
The buttons of my trousers
Are button'd to my vest;
Oh! listen to me Mimi,
Mere passion's in my breast!

Mimi, you funny little good for nothing Mimi,
Am I the guy?
Mimi, you sunny little honey of a Mimi,
I'm aiming high!
Mimi, you've got me sad and dreamy,
You could free me, if you'd see me.
Mimi, you know I'd like to have
A little son of a Mimi bye and bye.