NOW THEY CALL IT SWING
(Norman Cloutier / Vaughn De Leath / 
W Hirsch / Lou Handman)

as recorded by
Billie Holiday & her Orchestra
January 12th 1938 
New York


Once they called it ragtime
And it had its fling.
It's the same syncopation,
Now they call it swing.
Then they played it jazz time
To a buck and wing,
Once again it sweeps the nation,
Now they call it swing.

When singers used to sing,
They would go "Hot-cha!",
But with this modern thing,
Now they go "Da-de-de-de, da-da-da-da!".

Rhythm has its season,
Summer, Fall and Spring,
But for seven silly reasons
Someone pulled the string,
And they started dancing;
Now they call it swing.

Once they called it ragtime
And it had its fling.
It's the same syncopation,
Now they call it swing.
Then they played it jazz time
To a buck and wing,
Once again it sweeps the nation,
Now they call it swing.

When singers used to sing,
They would go "Hot-cha!",
But with this modern thing,
Now they go "Drit-dit-dit, drat-da-da!".

Rhythm has its season,
Summer, Fall and Spring,
But for seven silly reasons
Someone pulled the string,
And they started dancin';
Now they call it swing.
Baby, now they call it swing!



(Transcribed by Peter Akers - August 2013)