The American Rag Time

From “The American Idea”, 1908
Words and music by George M. Cohan

The sheet music:

The American Rag Time – Sheet MusicDownload

Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:

The_American_Rag_Time – MIDIDownload

Lyrics

  1. I never fell for William Tell
    I never liked that complicated music
    No, not for mine, No, not for mine
    Grand Opera stuff is all a bluff
    Give me that good old syncopated music
    I think its fine, Superfine
    What’s that tune the band is playing
    Now honey, now honey
    Listen to the people keeping time
    What’s that tune the band is playing
    Now honey, now honey
    Music with a reason and a rhyme
    E for sofa dil, E for sofa dil, oh!

Chorus:
It’s the American Rag Time
With a raggy, raggy, ring
It’s the American Rag Time
With a patriotic swing
I’ve heard the Merry Widow
And the Candy Kiddo
But give me the Zam, Zam, Zam
That pleases Uncle Sam
I’m crazy, yes I am
For American Rag Time
Is the only tune will do
The American Rag Time
Well, it thrills you thro’ and thro’
So, take all your great Grand Opera scores
And back to the tall with them, all for yours
I want the American Rag Time

  1. I’ve got it in for Lohengrin
    The rat time music’s livelier and looser
    It’s full of fire, It’s full of fire
    The waltz from Faust I always roast
    Give me a Yankee march by Mister Sousa
    Or Arthur Pryor, Or Arthur Pryor
    What’s that tune the band is playing
    Now honey, now honey
    Listen baby, ain’t it simply grand?
    What’s that tune the band is playing
    Now honey, now honey
    Everybody’s singing with the band
    E for sofa dil, E for sofa dil, oh!