A popular song from 1912.
Words and Music by Irving Berlin.
Cover Art by E.H. Pfeiffer.
Copyright ©11 Jun 1912.
Sheet Music from the collection of Michael Deatz.
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:
Lyrics
- Down upon the track
On a horse’s back
Warming up his fingers
Sits the ragtime jockey
Smile upon his face
Ready for the race
In his colors so gay
See ’em spread apart
Now they’re goin to start
Kindly keep an eye upon the ragtime jockey
Never mind your cold, don’t stop to cough
They’re off!
Chorus:
Go, go, go, go
I’ve got a bet upon you
Go, go, go, go
I’m betting heavy on you
Pop, giddy-up, giddy-up, giddy-up
Like I know you can
Run, run, run, run
And leave the rest behind you
Run, run, run, run
Don’t ever let ’em find you
I’ll bet a swag on the ragtime jockey man
- Hear the people yell
“Someone surely fell”
“Did I hear you say it was the ragtime jockey?”
Sure enough, you’re right
See me turning white
All my money is gone
“No it isn’t, Boss
See, he’s on his hoss
He was only kidding all the other jockeys
He’s just playing with them like a toy
Good boy”
Sung here by Laurence Rubenstein: