From the musical “Very Good Eddie”, 1915
Words by Schuyler Greene
Music by Jerome Kern
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:
Lyrics
- We have read, we have read
When the slaves were freed
Back in eighteen sixty three
Lincoln said, Lincoln said
And the world agreed
‘Twas he end of slavery
Let them reave, let them rave
Since the dancing vogue
Has taken hold of me
I’m a slave, I’m a slave
To a raggy rogue
And his name is “Melody”
Refrain
I’ve got to dance, I’ve got to dance
When I hear music calling to me
I just adore, I just adore
To glide around the floor
When I am all through with one dance
And we sit down to have a talk
Another tune seems to whisper
“Get up and walk”
Oh, won’t you stop, Oh, won’t you stop
That captivating beautiful tune
For if you don’t or if you won’t
I don’t know what I’ll do
I’d run away from each modulation
But I’m such a slave to syncopation
That I’ve got to dance
Until the orchestra gets through
- I reside, I reside
In a busy street
Cabarets on every side
I have tried, I have tried
To control my feet
But I can’t unless they’re tied
When I make, when I make
Up my weary mind
Into bed it’s time to creep
I’m awake, I’m awake
In the street to find
That I’m dancing in my sleep