Rag-i-ri-tis 1913

by James Pitt-Payne, London UK - 6 Apr 2009
2009

Have you heard about the epidemic
that has struck the town?
It is mysterious.
It's getting serious,
when it hits you then it makes you
act just like a crazy clown,
you get hilarious
and then delirious,
You quickly send for Doctor Quack
to diagnose your case,
He takes a single glance
then looks you gravely in the face,
and says I'm sorry
but I'll have to quarantine the place,
for you've got it
yes, you've got it
you've got the Ragiritis.

You've got the Ragiritis,
The Ragiritis,
and when you've got it bad,
it's worse then Pendicitis,
when you hear sweet music playing
and your body starts a swaying
and a feeling comes a stealing
till it sets your brain a reeling,
Then your eyes they start a poppin'
and around the floor you're hoppin'
then your fingers start a snappin'
that's a sign it's goin' to happpen,
for you've got it,
yes, you've got it,
that's the way to tell
you've got the Ragiritis.

You've got the Ragiritis,
The Ragiritis,
and when you've got it bad,
it's worse then Pendicitis,
when you hear sweet music playing
and your body starts a swaying
and a feeling comes a stealing
till it sets your brain a reeling,
Then your eyes they start a poppin'
and around the floor you're hoppin'
then your fingers start a snappin'
that's a sign it's goin' to happpen,
for you've got it,
yes, you've got it,
that's the way to tell
you've got the Ragiritis.

Ragiritis was discovered first
among the colored race.
This thing outrageous,
became contagious,
and when the white folks got it
all the coons were in disgrace,
they tried to cage 'em
which did enrage 'em.
Just like a lot of lunatics
you'd see them madly prance,
and squirm and wiggle
just as if they had St. Vitus Dance.
And folks would yell because they know
the symptoms at a glance,
well you've got it
yes, you've got it
you've got the Ragiritis.

You've got the Ragiritis,
The Ragiritis,
and when you've got it bad,
it's worse then Pendicitis,
when you hear sweet music playing
and your body starts a swaying
and a feeling comes a stealing
till it sets your brain a reeling,
Then your eyes they start a poppin'
and around the floor you're hoppin'
then your fingers start a snappin'
that's a sign it's goin' to happpen,
for you've got it,
yes, you've got it,
that's the way to tell
you've got the Ragiritis.

You've got the Ragiritis,
The Ragiritis,
and when you've got it bad,
it's worse then Pendicitis,
when you hear sweet music playing
and your body starts a swaying
and a feeling comes a stealing
till it sets your brain a reeling,
Then your eyes they start a poppin'
and around the floor you're hoppin'
then your fingers start a snappin'
that's a sign it's goin' to happpen,
for you've got it,
yes, you've got it,
that's the way to tell
you've got the Ragiritis.

Soft karaoke
Words
piano 1
piano 2
piano 3
piano 4
lyric
pizz str bass
*
Rag-i-ri-tis 1913
Music by Fred Hylands
Lyrics by J.Grant Gibson
© MCMXIII by Hylands & Gibson - New York
*
sequence & karaoke by James Pitt-Payne, London UK
on Monday 6 April 2009 at 16.29
in association with Veda Mayer-Castens
*