BALLIN' THE JACK
From the Broadway Musical "The Girl From Utah" (1914)
(Lyrics: James Henry Burris / Music: Chris Smith)
Donald Brian (Broadway Production) - 1914
Prince's Orch. (Instr.) - 1914
Victor Military Band (Instr.) - 1914
The Chicago Footwarmers (Instr.) - 1928
Eddie Condon & His Band (Instr.) - 1938
Jelly Roll Morton's new Orleans Jazz Men (Instr.) - 1941
Judy Garland & gene Kelly (feat. in the film "For Me And My Girl") - 1942
Kid Ory's Creole Jazz Band (vocal: Joe Darensbourg) - 1945
Stella Brooks - 1946
Georgia Gibbs - 1947 (Re-recorded 1955)
Danny Kaye - 1947
Martha Tilton & Hal Derwin - 1949
The Three Suns - 1949
The Chordettes - 1950
Dean Martin & Polly Bergen (feat. in the film "That's My Boy") - 1951
Danny Kaye (feat. in the film "On The Riviera") - 1951
Perez Prado & His Orch. (Instr.) - 1954
Pearl Bailey - 1958
Brenda Lee - 1959
Somethin' Smith & The Redheads - 1960
Bob Conrad - 1961
The Viscounts - 1963
Fats Domino - 1965
Bing Crosby - 1968
The Osmonds - 1974
Harry Nilsson - 1976
Sharon, Lois & Bram - 1986
Also recorded by :
Eddy Howard; Dick Jurgens; Johnny Maddox; Greg & Steve; Billie Holiday;
Henry "Red" Allen; Louis Armstrong; Chet Atkins; Count Basie; Earl Hines;
Firehouse Five Plus Two; Pete Fountain; Maurice Chevalier; Cliff Richard;
Sidney Bechet; Lester Lanin; Spike Jones; Annette Funicello; Ken Colyer;
Benny Goodman; Chubby Checker; James P. Johnson; Sammy Davis Jr.;
Glen Gray & The Casa Loma Orch.; Sidney DeParis Blue Note Jazzmen;
Eddy Howard; Bunk Johnson;Spike Jones; Matty Matlock; Eddie Cantor;
Freddy Martin & His Orch. ............ and many, many others.
ORIGINAL LYRICS:
Folks in Georgia's 'bout to go insane
Since that new dance down in Georgia came
I'm the only person who's to blame
I'm the party introduced it there, so
Give me credit to know a thing or two
Give me credit for springing something new
I will show this little dance to you
When I do you'll say that it's a bear
First you put your two knees close up tight
Then you sway 'em to the left, then you sway 'em to the right
Step around the floor kind of nice and light
Then you twist around and twist around with all your might
Stretch your lovin' arms straight out in space
Then you do the Eagle Rock with style and grace
Swing your foot way 'round, then bring it back
Now that's what I call "Ballin' the Jack"
It's being done at all the cabarets
All society now has got the craze
It's the best dance done in modern days
That is why I rave about it so
Play some good Rag that will make you prance
Old folks, young folks all try to do the dance
Join right in now while you got the chance
Once again the steps to you I'll show
First you put your two knees close up tight
Then you sway 'em to the left, then you sway 'em to the right
Step around the floor kind of nice and light
Then you twist around and twist around with all your might
Stretch your lovin' arms straight out in space
Then you do the Eagle Rock with style and grace
Swing your foot way 'round, then bring it back
Now that's what I call "Ballin' the Jack"
(Transcribed by Mel Priddle - July 2017)
********************
As performed by JUDY GARLAND & GENE KELLY
in the film "For Me And My Gal" (1942):
From coast to coast, from Canada to Mexico
They're doing a new dance, a tried-and-a-true dance
That will sweep the land and you'll think it's so grand
You'll have to learn how to do it, so please don't boo-hoo it
'Cause we've got this little dance that's gonna rise to fame
It's sure to put most any other dance to shame
The "Turkey-Trot", the "Bunny-Hug", the "Tickley-Toe"
Will be forgotten when we start to go!
Mr. Leader, won't you start the syncopation
And we'll begin our little demonstration.....
Now, first you put your two knees close up tight.
Then you sway 'em to the left and you sway 'em to the right
Step around the floor kind of nice and light
Then you twist around and twist around with all of your might
Stretch your lovin' arms straight out in space
Then you do the eagle rock with style and grace
Swing your foot way 'round and bring it back
Now that's what I call "Ballin' the Jack"
********************
As recorded by DANNY KAYE in 1949:
Whooo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo, oh you dog
Friddle-lah-doo-dai-doo-dig-bee-addle- doo-doo, boy
First you put your two knees close up tight
You swing 'em to the left and then you swing 'em to the right
Step around the floor kinda nice and light
And then you twist around, twist around with all of your might
Spread your lovin’ arms way out in space
You do the Eagle Rock with such style and grace
You put your left foot out and then you bring it back
That’s what I call "Ballin’ the Jack"
Oh, don’t do me that way
Listen to that man go, he’s crazy, I swear, he’s crazy
Oh dear!
Now follow me closely, real close on this one, and do me after me
First you put your two knees close up tight, real close, real close
Swing 'em to the left and then you swing 'em to the right
Oh, you’re delicious
Step around the floor kinda nice and light
And then you twist around, twist around with all of your might
Spread your lovin’ arms way out in space
You do the eagle rock with such style and grace
You put your left foot out and then you bring it back
That’s what I call "Ballin’ the Jack"
(Transcribed by Mel Priddle - July 2017)
********************
As performed by DEAN MARTIN & POLLY BERGEN
in the film "That's My Boy" (1951):
DEAN: Here's a new dance we oughta show 'em how to do
POLLY: This is the chance to really show `em somethin' new
DEAN: Are you ready?
POLLY: Ready and waitin', Sir
DEAN: Well okay
DEAN:
First you put your two knees close up tight
Then you sway 'em to the left an' then you sway 'em to the right
POLLY: Then
DEAN: Step around the floor kind of nice and light
BOTH: Then you twist around and twist around with all of your might
POLLY: Wow!
DEAN: Stretch your lovin' arms straight out in space
BOTH: Do the Eagle Rock with style and grace
DEAN:
Swing your foot way `round, then bring it back
Now that's what I call "Ballin' the Jack"
DEAN:
First you put your two knees close up tight
Then you sway 'em to the left an' then you sway 'em to the right
POLLY: Then
DEAN: Step around the floor kind of nice and light
BOTH: Then you twist around and twist around with all of your might
POLLY: Wow!
DEAN: Stretch your lovin' arms straight out in space
BOTH: Do the Eagle Rock with style and grace
DEAN:
Swing your foot way 'round, then bring it back
Now that's what I call "Ballin' the Jack"
POLLY: First
DEAN: Yes
POLLY: Your knees up tight, then sway 'em
DEAN: Done!
POLLY:
To the left, to the right
Step around the floor kind of nice and light
BOTH: Then twist with all of your might, Boy
POLLY:
Your arms in space
You do the Eagle Rock with style and grace
Swing your foot way 'round, then bring it back
BOTH: Now that's what we call "Ballin' the Jack"
BOTH:
Knees close up tight, to the left, to the right
Step around the floor kind of nice and light
Then twist with all of your might
Stretch out in space
Do the Eagle Rock with form and grace
Your foot way 'round
POLLY: Bring it back
BOTH: That's what we call "Ballin' the Jack"
BOTH:
Stretch your lovin' arms with style and grace
Swing your foot way 'round
Bring it back, boy, boy, boy, boogala
That's what we call "Ballin' the Jack."
(Contributed by Ferda Dolunay - March 2005)
