A popular song from 1912.
Words and music by J. R. Shannon.
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:
Lyrics
1. In a big cafe down on old Broadway
A waiter by the name of Lee
Said, “Yo’ entertainin’ men’s all right
But take this little tip from me
Those Ragtime songs yo’ sing up North
‘Bout which yo’ make such splurge
If yo’ ever was to sing ’em
Down in my home town
They’d take ’em for a funeral dirge
Ocean Rolls quite deep may be
But a Ragtime river’s good enough for me
CHORUS
Where that Ragtime River flows
Where every breeze blows
Sets the boats all doin’ a Ragtime Sway
While the waves all roll and tumble
On their syncopated way
And when that steamboat band strikes up a tune
Yo’ grab yo’self a partner
and commence to spoon
And Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh!
When that whistle blows
That peculiar feelin’ comes a-stealin’ over yo’
Yo’ cuddle up some closer
And yo’ don’t care what yo’ do
Yo’ just roll yo’ eyes to heaven
And yo’ holler for more
While you’re swayin’ yo’ are prayin’
That yo’ never will reach shore
Down where that Ragtime River flows
2. Listen while I tell you about that stream
That flows right down the Dixie land
Where the mermaids dan e a wiggl’y wag
For Neptune that is simply grand
Where the steamboat engine’s chug, chug, chug
Makes a Ragtime melody
While the passengers on board
All do the “Bunny Hug”
That’s where I ever long to be
Sung by Laurence Rubenstein: