At The Jazz Band Ball (Album Version) - Susannah McCorkle

Back when a nickel would buy

One drink of respectable rye

The players in the honky tonks

Would have to work on a slide

One two was known to a few

Some steady habitues too

So the word of mouth spread around the south

So entrez nous

You better dig that jazz band ball

Cause it's the ball of them all

For five musicians in the small saloon

Inventin' the rag time tune

They kind made up their own brand

Without a note on the stand

And they called it D I X I E

Hot pan alley candy land

Well sir you know it caught on

What's more it was strictly bontom

Cause like the winner at the starting gate

The music got it and gone

Jazz moved from over the tracks

Into the society shacks

It was wonderful

And deductible from the income tax

You better dig that jazz band ball

It's the ball of them all

When the trumpet player took a monologue

The people said "oh hot dog"

And if you ask them why the yell

They kinda grin then say well

When the band plays J A double zee

It's a B A double L

You better dig that jazz band ball

Cause it's the ball of them all

When the band plays J A double zee

It's a B A double L

Ball