The International Rag 1913

by James Pitt-Payne, London UK - 14 Nov 2006
2006

What did you do America
they're after you America
You got excited and you started something
nations jumping all around
you've got a lot to answer for
they lay the blame right at your door
The world is ragtime crazy
from shore to shore

London dropped its dignity
so has France and Germany
all hands are dancing to a raggedy melody
full of originality
the folks who live in sunny Spain
dance to a strain
that they call the Spanish Tango
Dukes and Lords and Russian Czars
men who own their motor cars
throw up their shoulders to that raggedy melody
full of originality
Italian opera singers
have learned to snap their fingers
the world goes 'round to the sound
of the International Rag.

London dropped its dignity
so has France and Germany
all hands are dancing to a raggedy melody
full of originality
the folks who live in sunny Spain
dance to a strain
that they call the Spanish Tango
Dukes and Lords and Russian Czars
men who own their motor cars
throw up their shoulders to that raggedy melody
full of originality
Italian opera singers
have learned to snap their fingers
the world goes 'round to the sound
of the International Rag.

In every land America,
Most ev'ry band America,
has started ev'rybody dancing daily
prancing gaily all around
there's syncopation in the air,
they've got the fever every where
each happy, snappy chappy
cries: "It's a bear,"

London dropped its dignity
so has France and Germany
all hands are dancing to a raggedy melody
full of originality
the folks who live in sunny Spain
dance to a strain
that they call the Spanish Tango
Dukes and Lords and Russian Czars
men who own their motor cars
throw up their shoulders to that raggedy melody
full of originality
Italian opera singers
have learned to snap their fingers
the world goes 'round to the sound
of the International Rag.

London dropped its dignity
so has France and Germany
all hands are dancing to a raggedy melody
full of originality
the folks who live in sunny Spain
dance to a strain
that they call the Spanish Tango
Dukes and Lords and Russian Czars
men who own their motor cars
throw up their shoulders to that raggedy melody
full of originality
Italian opera singers
have learned to snap their fingers
the world goes 'round to the sound
of the International Rag.

Soft karaoke
Words
piano
piano
piano
piano
*
The International Rag 1913
Words & Music by Irving Berlin
© MCMXIII by Waterson, Berlin & Snyder
*
sequence & karaoke by James Pitt-Payne, London UK
on Tuesday 14 November 2006 at 4.50pm
in association with Doug Grierson
*