A popular song from 1919.
Words by Jack Yellen.
Music by Abe Olman.
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:
Lyrics
- You’ve heard of the Shimmie dance
But do you know it started back in France?
I learn’d from a Soldier man
How this funny little dance began
At a ragtime jubilee
The soldiers gave one night in gay Paree
A “cullud gent” by accident
Introduced this novelty
Chorus
Mose began to “Ball the Jack”
Just then up and down his back
He felt a cute little Cootie
Wigglin’, wigglin’, in its track
That’s what made him shake and twist
He did something just like this
And ev’ryone began to wiggle with ‘im
Their shoulders movin’ to the raggy rhythm
It’s the “Cootie Tickle” back in France
Over here it’s the Shimmie Dance
- Now in ev’ry cabaret
The minute that the band begins to play
Ev’rybody on the floor
Dances like they never did before
It’s done in so many ways
And when I see it I just sit and gaze
And all the while I have to smile
Thinking of what caused this craze