The Real American Folk Song 1918 'Ladies First'

Dr. Pitt-Payne in London UK - 25 Jul 2003

Near Barcelona the peasant croons
the old traditional Spanish tunes;
the Neapolitan Street Song sighs,
you think of Italian skies.
Each nation has a creative vein
originating a native strain,
with folk songs plaintive and others gay
in their own peculiar way.
American folk songs, I feel,
have a much stronger appeal.

The real American folk song is a rag,
a mental jag,
a rhythmic tonic for the chronic blues.
The critics called it a joke song,
but now they've changed their tune
and they like it somehow.
For it's inoculated
with a syncopated sort of meter,
sweeter than a classic strain.
Boy! You can't remain
still and quiet for it's a riot!
The real American folk song
is like a fountain of youth;
you taste and it elates you,
and then invigorates you.
The real American folk song,
a master stroke song, is a rag.

The real American folk song is a rag,
a mental jag,
a rhythmic tonic for the chronic blues.
The critics called it a joke song,
but now they've changed their tune
and they like it somehow.
For it's inoculated
with a syncopated sort of meter,
sweeter than a classic strain.
Boy! You can't remain
still and quiet for it's a riot!
The real American folk song
is like a fountain of youth;
you taste and it elates you,
and then invigorates you.
The real American folk song,
a master stroke song, is a rag.

You may dislike, or you may adore,
the native songs from a foreign shore;
they may be songs that you can't forget,
they may be distinctive yet
they lack a something, a certain sap,
the tempo ticklish that makes you tap;
the invitation to agitate
and leave the rest to fate.

A raggy refrain any time
sends me a message sublime.

The real American folk song is a rag,
a mental jag,
a rhythmic tonic for the chronic blues.
The critics called it a joke song,
but now they've changed their tune
and they like it somehow.
For it's inoculated
with a syncopated sort of meter,
sweeter than a classic strain.
Boy! You can't remain
still and quiet for it's a riot!
The real American folk song
is like a fountain of youth;
you taste and it elates you,
and then invigorates you.
The real American folk song,
a master stroke song, is a rag.

The real American folk song is a rag,
a mental jag,
a rhythmic tonic for the chronic blues.
The critics called it a joke song,
but now they've changed their tune
and they like it somehow.
For it's inoculated
with a syncopated sort of meter,
sweeter than a classic strain.
Boy! You can't remain
still and quiet for it's a riot!
The real American folk song
is like a fountain of youth;
you taste and it elates you,
and then invigorates you.
The real American folk song,
a master stroke song, is a rag.

Soft karaoke
Words
piano 1
piano 2
piano 3
piano 4
lyric
*
The Real American Folk Song 1918
from "Ladies First"
Music by George Gershwin
Lyrics by Ira Gershwin
copyright 1959 (renewed 1987) by Chappell and Co.
sequence and karaoke by Dr. Pitt-Payne in London UK
on Friday 23 July 2003 at 15.08
in association with Doug Grierson
*