[WARNING: This song contains antiquated racial language. It is presented here for historical and educational purposes only.]
a 1922 popular song
words and music by Chas. H. Booker
The sheet music:
Accompaniment:
Lyrics
- Way down in Memphis Tennessee
They have a brand new dance you see
At every park and cabaret
They do this dance all night til break of day
It started at that third street hall
But now they dance it at the Chisca ball
They go wild when a jazz band plays
About this new dance craze
Refrain
You grab your gal around the waist just so
And do that shotgun across the floor
You shake the shimmy with your shoulder and hand
And then you stop (spoken: Oo lawdy mamma, ain’t that grand)
Once more you glide your gal around the hall
And do that slow drag one and all
And then you shimmy, toddle, and shout the cutout
That’s the dance they call the Cootie Crawl
- Now listen folks to what I say
Down at that darktown cabaret
They have a jazz band on the stand
They call it booker’s and its simply grand
Now when you hear that Trombone moan
You can’t resist that weeping Saxophone
When that band begins to syncopate
You can hear that floor manager blate
Sung here by Fred Feild: