Ja Da

A silly, simple, cute and catchy self-referencing song, 1918.
words and music by Bob Carleton

The lyrics of this lively little song predicted its success. Written in Illinois, it was donated to benefit the Navy Relief Society. Seems to be a take-off on the many pseudo-Oriental, middle eastern, and Hawaiian songs of the time. Its gibberish lyrics were a foretaste of modern Dadaism, Salvadore Dali, and Gertrude Stein.

The sheet music:

Ja-Da – Sheet MusicDownload

Accompaniment track:

Ja-Da – MIDIDownload

Lyrics

  1. You’ve heard all about your raggy melodies
    Everything from opera down to harmony
    But I’ve a little song that I will sing to you
    It’s going to win you thru and thru
    There ain’t much to the words but the music is grand
    And you’ll be singing it to beat the band
    Now you’ve heard of your “Will O’The Wisp”
    But give a little listen to this, it goes

Chorus
Ja Da (Ja Da), Ja Da (Ja Da)
Ja Da Ja Da Jing, Jing, Jing
(Everybody’s singing)
Ja Da (Ja Da), Ja Da (Ja Da)
Ja Da Ja Da Jing, Jing, Jing
That’s a funny little bit of melody
It’s so soothing and appealing to me
It goes Ja Da (Ja Da), Ja Da (Ja Da)
Ja Da Ja Da Jing, Jing, Jing

  1. Now everyone was singing a Hawaiian strain
    Everyone seemed to have it on their brain
    When Yaka Hicky Hoola Do was all the craze
    Why that’s the one that had ’em dazed
    The object now is for something new
    Something that will appeal to you
    And here’s a little melody that you will find
    Will linger, linger there in your mind, it goes

Sung here by Fred Feild: