Used in “ALEXANDER’S RAGTIME BAND,” 1938 film.
Words and Music by Irving Berlin.
Copyright ©18 Mar 1911.
Sheet Music from the collection of Michael Deatz.
The sheet music.
Reprint of original 1911 Cover at the time of film release:
Lyrics:
VERSE 1:
Oh, ma honey, oh, ma honey,
Better hurry and let’s meander,
Ain’t you goin’, ain’t you goin’.
To the leader man, ragged meter man?
Oh, ma honey, oh, ma honey,
Let me take you to Alexander’s
Grand stand, brass band,
Ain’t you comin’ along?
CHORUS:
Come on and hear, come on and hear
Alexander’s Ragtime Band.
Come on and hear, come on and hear
It’s the best band in the land.
They can play a bugle call like you never heard before,
So natural that you want to go to war,
That’s just the bestest band what am,
Honey lamb.
Come on along, come on along
Let me take you by the hand
Up to the man, up to the man
Who’s the leader of the band,
And if you care to hear the “Swanee River” played in ragtime,
Come on and hear, come on and hear
Alexander’s Ragtime Band.
VERSE 2:
Oh, ma honey, oh, ma honey,
There’s a fiddle with notes that screeches
Like a chicken, like a chicken,
And the clarinet is a colored pet;
Come and listen, come and listen,
To a classical band what’s peaches,
Come now, somehow,
Better hurry along.
REPEAT CHORUS