Transcribed from vocals by Ethel Waters, recorded
3/21-22/1921.
From Ethel
Waters 1921 - 1923, The Chronogical Classics, vol. 796.
Everybody's going crazy
About the different dances of the
day;
Everybody in this whole entire
world
Is trying to learn the dance and
sway;
Here's one dance you ought to learn,
It's something simply grand;
Now folks, it is so simple
Anyone can understand.
And if you'll take a chance,
I'll show you how to do this dance:
Just grab your partner
'Round the waist,
Hook her lightly
In her place,
Just lay back and do the shimaree,
Buzz up to your baby like a bumblebee.
Then lay back and do that eagle
rock;
Please, professor, don't you ever
stop,
Swing your partner, then you slide;
That's the New York Glide!
You can all have your tickle toe,
I mean, that's a dance you can
do,
But if you should once see this
dance,
I know that you would be amused;
Anywhere you hear this tune,
It sneaks up on your mind;
And if you love good music,
Why, you're going to keep in time;
And when you hear that band,
You'll say this dance is simply
grand!
Just grab your partner
'Round the waist,
Pull her lightly
In her place;
Just lay back and do the shimaree;
Buzz up to your baby like a bumblebee.
Then lay back and do that eagle
rock;
Please professor, don't you ever
stop;
Swing your partner, then you slide;
That's the New York Glide!
Return to the Jazz and Blues Lyrics Page.
Published 4/25/99.
Ethel Waters starred in both the stage and film version of Cabin in the Sky. The movie also starred Lena Horne and Eddie "Rochester" Anderson. Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington had minor roles. Waters commented in her remarkable autobiography, His Eye is on the Sparrow, that she didn't enjoy making the movie -- too much behind-the-scenes back-biting.
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