[WARNING: This song contains antiquated racial stereotypes. It is presented here for historical and educational purposes only.]
a 1921 popular song
words by Henry Creamer
music by Turner Layton
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:
Lyrics
- At the barber’s ball in the barber’s hall
All the dusky belles were there
Such a glancin’, prancin’, struttin’ and a-dancin’
They were doing for fair
All the belles and beaus prancin’ on their toes
Tried to do the cake walk swell
When a midnight blonde came prancing on
They were heard to yell
Chorus
Won’t you strut Miss Lizzie
Get busy I want to see you walk
For the folks all state the way you syncopate
Is the whole town talk
When you move so pretty it’s a pity
The other girlies frown
But the men you meet
Like the way you shake your feet
Oh you knock ’em dizzy
Strut, Miss Lizzie Brown
(I’ll bet you’ve got the cutest little strut in town)
- They were steppin’ sweet, they were steppin’ neat
They were steppin’ superfine
To the singing, swinging, fancy pigeon winging
They were falling in line
Every dame and dude struck an attitude
For to win that cake they tried
But when Lizzie Brown came prancing round
Everybody cried
Patter:
Go down the street by the school
Pat your feet you steppin’ fool
Strut your stuff, use your “Kerch”
Trot your tootsies by the church
Through the alley dodge the cans
Shake Miss Sally’s pots and pans
Cool your dogs we’re coming through
Get set for Lenox Avenue
Sung here by Fred Feild: