WHEN SHORTY PLAYS THE SCHOTTISCHE
From the film "The Westward Trail" (1948)
(Pete Gates)


Eddie Dean & The Plainsmen (Film Soundtrack) - 1948


When Shorty plays The Schottische on his old guitar
Then all the couples come from near and far
He's known as the dandy of the dances where they doe-see-doe
'Cause when he plays The Schottische, he's the whole durn show

When Shorty plays The Schottische on his old cornet
To me it's as purty as a minuet
And even the dancers stop and listen when he plays so sweet
'Cause when he plays The Schottisch, Shorty can't be beat

(He can play in F)
(Or he can play in C)
(And when he plays The Schottische)
(He can play in almost any key)

When Shorty plays The Schottische on his violin
He fastens a 'kerchief underneath his chin
And then with his fiddle on his lap he holds the note face down
When Scotty plays The Schottische, he's a gosh-durned clown

When Shorty plays The Schottische on his slide trombone
Why, even the rafters in the dance hall groan
And then when he stretches out his arm and puffs his cheeks out fat
Then Shorty's gettin' ready for a lonesome flat

When Shorty plays The Schottische on his big base viol
Then all of the customers begin to smile
They gather around and give a listen to the zoom-zoom-zoom
'Cause when he plays the bass, he shakes the whole durn room

Now, he can play in F
Or he can play in C
And when he plays The Schottische
He can play in almost any key

When Shorty plays The Schottische you can bet your boots
He plays it on ev'rything from horns to flutes
And then at the finish of the dance he gets a great big hand
'Cause when he plays The Schottische, he's a one man band


(Transcribed by Mel Priddle - April 2009)