Historic Sheet Music Collection

Title

Jazz Baby

Document Type

Score

Publication Date

1919

Comments

Jazz Baby

Words by Blanche Merrill

Music by M.K. Jerome

New York: Waterson, Berlin & Snyder Co. (1919)

Some of these resources may contain offensive language or negative stereotypes. Such materials should be seen in the context of the time period and as a reflection of attitudes of the time. The items are part of the historical record, and do not represent the views of the library or the institution.

Lyrics

[Voice]

My daddy was a ragtime trombone player,
My mammy was a ragtime cabaret er,
They met one day at a tango tea,
There was a syncopated wedding and then came me;
Folks think the way I walk is a fad,
But it’s a birthday present from my Mammy and Dad.

[Chorus]

I’m a Jazz baby,
I want to be a jazzing all the time;
There’s something in the tone of a saxophone,
That makes me do a little wiggle all my own,
‘Cause I’m a Jazz baby,
Full of jazbo harmony;
That “walk the dog,” and “ball the jack,” that caused all the talk,
Is just a copy of the way I nat’rally walk,
‘Cause I’m a Jazz baby,
Little Jazz baby that’s me.

[Patter]

Rocked to sleep while the cradle went to and fro,
To and fro to the tune of the “tickle toe,”
Ever since I started in to grow,
I’d love to hear the music playin’,
See my dear old mammy swayin’,
Jazz, Jazz, Jazz, that’s all I ever knew,
All day long I never would get thro’,
Jazz, Jazz, Jazz, that’s all I want to do;
Play me a little Jazz.
‘Cause I’m a Jazz baby;
Full of jazbo harmony;
That “walk the dog,” and “ball the jack,” that caused all the talk,
Is just a copy of the way I nat’rally walk,
‘Cause I’m a Jazz baby,
Little Jazz baby that’s me.

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The views expressed in this paper are solely those of the author.