The Manhattan Transfer Album

(Louis Armstrong / Zilner Randolph)

Now one time there lived an old man
With a very crooked nose
He lived inside a log hut
And they called him ol' man Mose
One dark and dreary morning I knocked upon his door
I didn't hear a single sound
So I ain't gonna do it no more.

'cos I believe ol' man, I believe ol' man
I believe ol' man, thatol' man Mose is dead.
I believe ol' man, I believe ol' man
I believe ol' man, that ol' man Mose is dead.

(Now you believe) Mose kicked the bucket
(You believe) Mose kicked the bucket
(You believe) Mose kicked the bucket
(You believe he's dead)

(You believe) Mose kicked the bucket
(You believe) Mose kicked the bucket
(You believe) Mose kicked the bucket
(You believe he's dead)

Now listen here,
I went round to the window
And I peeped in through the crack,
Inside there was an old man
Laying flat upon his back
I thought that he was sleeping
Head hung to the floor
He didn't make a single move
So I ain't gonna do it no more

'cos I found out ol' man, I found out ol' man
Yeah, I found out ol' man, ol' man Mose is dead

('cos you found out) ol' man
(you found out) ol' man
(you found out) ol' man
(you found out he's dead)

(you found out) Mose kicked the bucket
(you found out) Mose kicked the bucket
(you found out) Mose kicked the bucket
(you found out he's dead)


(you found out) Mose kicked the bucket
(you found out) Mose kicked the bucket
(you found out) Mose kickin' up daisies
(you found out he's dead)

Old Man Mose is dead.

That's swing! Yes, sir!
(Swingin' from the time of birth)
Hip thing - gasser!
(Swingin' fit t'shake the earth)
My man! Benny!
(Swing a man for all he's worth)
that's Moten's thing

Verse 1
Swing, that's the thing
Y'gotta dig it
Bust loose 'n give it a try
Go! Go! Go!
Swing it! Swing it! Swing it!

Verse 2
Put some pepper in the pot
'n that'll make it sweet an' hot
'Cause you're swingin', swingin', swingin'

Guitar Solo
Repeat Verse 1
Violin Solo/Background Vocals:
Take it Jackson!
Make some action, oh, yeah
Stir it up, stir it up, stir it up, stir it up Benny
Hey!
Moten's motion
Makes you feel some, oh, yeah
Stir it up, stir it up, stir it up
Let the chick steal some - GO!!!

Steel Guitar Solo
Repeat Background Vocals

Let the chick steal some - GO!!!

Janis' Solo:
Aw - shake that pretty little bundle
Til you're poppin' your top
"Cause I'm jus' gittin' in the groove
Baby, please don't stop
Ooh - turn me loose, lemme go, gimme room,
lemme flow like water downstream
I'm livin' my dream. swingin' like a rusty gate - oops!
That's it, it's the Moten's swing

Violin solo/Janis' Solo:
If you ever git it, don't 'cha run wit it,
Benny done did it way back
Yes, sir, Mr. Moten
It's his thing
That's swingin' - He's a swingin' it

Nobody can define it
It's a thing you can't describe in words
It's swingin', it's swingin'
Swing, they call it
Benny Moten does it

Mos' people groove behin' it
Crowdin' every ballroom floor in herds
Jes' swingin', an' swingin's
What they call it
Benny Moten was it

Satchmo from Oliver defined it - Singin'
Basie with Moten, he refined it - swingin'

Now everyone's hip
Everyone's hip to the tip
People say it drives you crazy
Everyone digs that thing
Everyone likes a fling
Everyone likes to swing

A-tisket, a-tasket
A brown and yellow basket
I sent a letter to my mommy
On the way I dropped it

I dropped it, I dropped it
Yes on the way I dropped it
A little girlie picked it up
And put it in her pocket

She was truckin' on down the avenue
Not a single thing to do
She went peck, peck, peckin' all around
When she spied it on the ground

She took it, she took it,
My little yellow basket
And if she doesn't bring it back
I think that I will die

A-tisket, a-tasket
I lost my yellow basket
And if that girlie don't return it
Don't know what I'll do

Oh dear, I wonder where my basket can be?
(So do we, so do we, so do we, so do we, so do we)
Oh gee, I wish that little girl I could see
(So do we, so do we, so do we, so do we, so do we)

Oh why was I so careless with that basket of mine
That itty-bitty basket was a joy of mine

A-tisket, a-tasket,
I lost my yellow basket
Won't someone help me find my basket
And make me happy again, again!

(Was it green?)
No, no, no, no
(Was it red?)
No, no, no, no
(Was it blue?)
No, no, no, no
Just a little yellow basket

A little yellow basket

(M. Pinkard / S. Mitchell / F. Alexander)

Sugar, I call my baby my sugar
I never maybe my sugar
That sugar baby of mine
He's special ration
Funny, he never asks for my money
All I give him is honey
And that he can spend anytime

I'd make a million trips to lips
It I were a bee
Because he's sweeter than chocolate candy to me
He's confectionary

Sugar, I never cheat on my Sugar
Cause I'm too sweet on my Sugar
That sugar baby of mine

Up a lazy river by the old mill stream
That lazy, hazy river where we both can dream
Linger in the shade of an old oak tree
Throw away your troubles, dream a dream with me

Up a lazy river where the robin's song
Wakes up in the mornin', as we roll along
Blue skies up above ....everyone's in love
Up a lazy river, how happy we will be, now
Up a lazy river with me

[Instrumental break]

Up a lazy river by the old mill run
That lazy, lazy river in the noon day sun
You can linger in the shade of that fine ole tree
Throw, away your troubles, baby, dream with me

Up a lazy river where the robin's song
Wakes a brand new mornin' as we roll along
There are blue skies up above...and as long as we're in love
Up a lazy river, how happy we could be
If you go up a lazy river with me
Ah said with me now.....goin'up that... lazy river..... with me

Do you know what it means to miss New Orleans
And miss it each night and day
I know I'm not wrong... this feeling's gettin' stronger
The longer, I stay away
Miss them moss covered vines...the tall sugar pines
Where mockin' birds used to sing
And I'd like to see that lazy Mississippi...hurryin' into spring

The moonlight on the bayou.......a Creole tune.... that fills the air
I dream... about Magnolias in bloom......and I'm wishin' I was there

Do you know what it means to miss New Orleans
When that's where you left your heart
And there's one thing more...I miss the one I care for
More than I miss New Orleans

(instrumental break)

The moonlight on the bayou.......a Creole tune.... that fills the air
I dream... about Magnolias in bloom......and I'm wishin' I was there

Do you know what it means to miss New Orleans
When that's where you left your heart
And there's one thing more...I miss the one I care for
More.....more than I miss.......New Orleans

(Mitchell Parish / Frank S. Perkins)

We lived our little drama
We kissed in a field of white
And stars fell on Alabama last night
I can't forget the glamour
Your eyes held a tender light
And stars fell on Alabama last night

I never planned in my imagination
A situation so heavenly
A fairy land where no one else could enter
And in the center just you and me
My heart beat like a hammer
My arms wound around you tight
And stars fell on Alabama last night

Manhattan Transfer
Gone Fishin'

(Nick Kenny / Charles Kenny)

I'll tell you why I can't find you
Every time I go out to your place.....

You gone fishin' (Well how you know?)
Well there's a sign upon your door (Uh-huh)
Gone fishin' (I'm real gone man)
You ain't workin' anymore (Could be)
There's your hoe out in the sun
Where you left a row half done
You claim that hoein' ain't no fun (But I can prove it)
You ain't got no ambition
Gone fishin' by a shady-wady pool (Shangri-la, really la)
I'm wishin' I could be that kind of fool (Should I twist your arm?)
I'd say no more work for mine (Welcome to the club)
On my door I'd hang a sign
Gone fishin' instead of just a-wishin'

I stopped by your place a time or two lately
And you aren't home either

Well, I'm a busy man, Louis
I got a lotta big deals cookin'
I was probably tied up at the studio

You weren't tied up, you dog
You was just plain old.....

Gone fishin' (Bah-boo-bah-boo-bah-boo-bah-boo-bah)
There's a sign upon your door (Pops, don't blab it around, will you)
Gone fishin' (Keep it shady, I got me a big one staked out)
Oohhh, you ain't workin' anymore (I don't have to work, I got me a piece of Gary)
Cows need milkin' in the barn (I got the twins on that detail, they each take a side)
But you just don't give a darn (Give 'em four bits a cow and hand lotion)
You just never seem to learn (Man, you taught me)
You ain't got no ambition (You're convincin' me)
Gone fishin' (Bah-boo-dah-do-dah-do-dah-do)
Got your hound dog by your side (That's old Cindy-Lou goin' with me)
Gone fishin' (Mmm-hmm-hmm-hmm-hmm)
Fleas are bitin' at his hide (Get away from me boy, you're botherin' me)

Folks won't find us now because
Mister Satch and Mister Cros
We gone fishin' instead of just a-wishin'
Bah-boo-baby-bah-boo-bah-bay-mmm-boo-bay
Oh yeah!

Blue again, blue again
And you darn well it's you again
You said last night we were through again
And now I'm blue again
I'm alone again, alone again
I'm out around on my own again
There's a mocking bird that's flown again
And I'm alone again

Now baby, though I said I hate you
I love you more everyday, babe
Though I aggravate you
All that I'm dyin' to say that it's new again

You again and we'll meet today
At half past two again
And tonight we'll fight again
And I'll be blue again

See the white and fluffy clouds
Adore the sun
As he shines his light
On each and every one
Still, those clouds can hide his light
Till the day becomes like night
So my light heart would darken too
If I ever lost you

As the clouds begin to shed
Their tears of rain
So my aching heart would
Shed its tears of pain
Till that happy moment when
Darkened clouds roll by and then
White and fluffy clouds
Adore the sun once again

Cheryl's Solo:
When I was young
I'd long to touch a cloud
On my back on a bed of green
I'd contemplate the cloud scene
They would form themselves
into a lot o' different kinds o' pictures
Of the kind that pre-existed in my mind
Paintin' the kind o' scene
That I never saw on a wide screen
Look! Ain't that Moses on the mount!
There! Monte Christo an' a gallant count!
Four white horses and a coach


Proceeding madly to approach
the sunlit castle of his majesty the king

Isn't that a flying saucer
and a pilgrim out of Chaucer going by?
They're all right there in a cloud
Standing tall and proud
How thrilling to see!
A panorama that will never end
like the movies do
"Cause they're yours alone
an' under your direction
How'd y'like the movie
that was showin' t'day?
An' what a cast!
An' not only the casting
but a story full of glory everlasting
the errant, fluffy clouds
doing everything they have always done
Like adore the sun
Come out an' do their thing again

Stephane Grappelli/Stochelo Rosenberg Solo
See the white, fluffy clouds adore the sun
As he shines his light on each and every one
White and fluffy clouds adore the sun
Once again.

(Alan Paul & Edwin Morris)

Verse 1
Folks are stompin' at Mahogany Hall tonight
So let me tell you 'bout this house of shame
That the folks they talk and hush about
Yeah.. little old hang where folks they muss all about
I'm sayin it's a place of ill repute
I would just stay away, if I were you

Stay away, stay away, keep a stayin' away

Verse 2
Yeah man, if you feel that lovin' is what you're all about
Go find a wife that you can love, truly love
Then the lord above will bless and watch over you
Hear what I'm sayin' 'cause it's the truth
So don't you meddlin' around

Yeh yeh yeh...yeh, yeh yeh yeh yeh
Ooh...yeh yeh yeh yeh
Ooh...

Chorus 1
When that urge to stomp, and romp in hay
Hits you like a bull in a shop with the fire and a flame and a rage
That's when the devil, he comes to play
So you be wise and don't give in to his little lies that lead to sin
To be victorious, take the glorious jump
Far away from him

Verse 3
I don't believe this house right here
Is a place of sin that all you folks wanna gab about
Hear the music and the love that's spurrin' from a joy
We feel that we don't have to hide

Verse 4
Now I must concur with all this sister's been sayin'
Because I get back so much love, more than from prayin'
Never been akin to confessin' much
But Lord knows this house it moves and thrills me

Verse 5
That's right! How can you know what's missin' when you've never
Known the bliss that keeps a riding deep within my soul
Yeh, those babes they move me
There's stompin' and moves and turns all night
Rollin' till break of dawn

Now we know the Lord above in Heaven

We don't believe all the things you say
You gotta dig it another way

Can see all through you folks better than we can
A little rhythm will rock your soul
A little lovin' will make you whole
But the Good Book says roll your spirit up high...
Come on and give in to what we're sayin' Go...
rollin', rollin', rollin', rollin',
rollin', rollin', rollin', rollin',
goin', goin', goin', goin',
rollin', rollin', rollin', rollin',
goin', goin', goin', goin',
HIGH...

Heed these words and just

Stop that sinnin'
No!
Scratch is winnin'
No!
Don't be playin'
No!
Start your prayin'
No!
The Lord's waitin'
No!
For you so...

Shout chorus

Stop that stompin' change your story
(come on)
We're stompin' to rhythm
(roll on)
That's keepin' us livin'
Don't be messin' with the glory that's waiting for you
(go on)
No evil will find us
(roll on)
The Lord is behind us
(and on)
So roll with the music
then...
roll on, roll on, roll on, roll on,
Old scratch will never have his way again
(come on)
Don't bother us
(roll on)
let spirit just reach in
He will never bother you with all that sin...
(on and on)
Good lovin' will free you
(roll on)
And lighten what you do
RIP away the chains that confine you
(come on)
Come join in our party
Ther's nothing more I think we've said it
Ther's nothing more I think we've said it

That's the story of Mahogany Hall Tonight
That's the story of Mahogany Hall Tonight

Adaptation from "Hotter Than That"
Written by Lillian Armstrong
Adapted lyric by Alan Paul


Intro
If you just tell me you'll be true
And say you love me too,
Then we'll hit the moon 'cause nothing else could be
Any hotter than that

Verse 1 (Janis)
When the Fahrenheit hits me it is like a wave in flight
I'm tellin' you man, it makes me boil to where I'm losin' my sight
But Babe compared to you, a tropical Bayou that I might discover
Is like the frozen night air from the Arctic Sea
Love . . . . . . . . . . . . . is the fire, the flame that I'm speaking of
You've cast that spell that voodoo that I want called love
So if you'll say you'll be true
And say you love me too
Then we will hit the moon
Breakin' the thermostat

Verse 2 (Cheryl)
Just wait a minute while I spin a little tale
It's story of . . . romance and mixed emotion
Far removed from that which most encounter
When they're lookin' for love.
It's all about a burnin' yearnin' that I have known too well.
This flame of fire it overtakes me each time I get movin' to a crazy
Grindin' little rhythm when the music is up
Syncopatin' wild music is the aphrodisiac that I adore
Some folks think I'm a bit spicy but they really don't offend me at all
A bit carefree like Anais Nin am I in all the little matters
That pertain to love
Thanks for the listen don't be missin' all the sizzlin' out of love

Chorus
It's hotter than a hundred-and-ten in mid-July
We're sayin' it's
Hotter than Tabasco or Jamaican fry
When you say you'll be true
And tell me you love me too
The yen for you won't hesitate
(scat)
So . . . if you were to say to me babe
That you find me, oh so fine dear
When you say . . . you just can not live without me
Than nothin' baby, could be hotter than that

Sax solo

Chorus 2
It's hotter than a hundred-and-ten in mid-July
We're sayin' it's
Hotter than Tabasco or Jamaican fry
When you say you'll be true
And tell me you love me too
The yen for you won't hesitate
(scat)
So . . . if you were to say to me babe
That you find me oh so fine dear
When you say you just can not live without me then
Laddy, look out Gabe

(Sax solo and scat)

So if you just say you'll be true
And you cannot live without me
Then nothing, baby, could be hotter than that

(scat)

The jam is jumpin'
the drums are pumpin'
the groove is lockin' in the rhythm like we want it to be

No time for stallin'
We're really haulin'
we've gotta keep it in the pocket or we'll stagger behind

You never know just when to leave it when you're riffin' in time
Or if the time itself will falter, or of words even rhyme
But we admit, the trick to it is not to think about it
when you're busy bravin' all the notes in the line

This time we mean it
We're gonna swing it
And take you right up to the end before we try to unwind

Alan's solo:
I've never been the kind of guy who could just normally quit
Never could decide when to rest my pride
and feel all right with just good enough
Thoughts, they gather
tellin' me to look to find a bright new way
to assemble all the stimulated motives that haunt me
tryin' a live it, be in the moment, tryin' to sing it alone
can beckon to me, a feelin' of being bent
so I believe, takin' a leave is the brightest way to stop
All the chatter boxin' going 'round in my brain
so I'm wailin' - movin' and groovin' this part of this song
I hope that my riff's good enough to keep
better leave it now or go out of my mind

Violin Solo
Tim's solo:
Now I dig you think that perfect's what we should make it
But I've been down that road and I can tell ya how we feel's


the most important thing about it
Whether you're right or whether you might think
we're pathetic
A little lighter on the reins will help you loosen up the chains
that are still binding you -
In the past, whenever thoughts I had would try to re-
evaluate all that i would do
I'd hesitate, consolidate, and motivate
All the little pearls of doubt that strive to break up
every single bit of
precious joy that flowed from God's soul spark that
shines within me
That's it in a nut shell
So take advice from this sap, go for feel and leave it alone

Mandolin Solo:
Now's the time to sing
Swing is what we bring
Rhythm that's the thing
To really get your spirit movin' higher

Gonna jump and play
Dance the night away
Make you really sway
And let the music take you even higher

E-lla sang this song real special
Come on, come on - we'll sing this special song for you

One more one we'll go
but before we blow
we want you to know
The take is really good enough, we'll keep it!

Hear that whistle, it's ten o'clock (Don't let go, don't let go)
Come on baby, it's time to rock (Don't let go, don't let go)
I'm so happy I got you here (Don't let go, don't let go)
Keeps me grinnin' from ear to ear (Don't let go, don't let go)

Oooh wee
Mmm, this feelin's killin' me
Aw shucks
Well, I wouldn't stop for a million bucks
I love you so
Just hold me tight and don't let go

Thunder, lightnin', wind and rain (Don't let go, don't let go)
Love is poundin' inside my brain, oh baby (Don't let go, don't let go)
I'm so eager I'm nearly dyin' (Don't let go, don't let go)
You been keepin' your lips from mine (Don't let go, don't let go)

Oooh wee
Oh, this feelin's killin' me
Aw shucks
Well, you know I wouldn't stop it for a million bucks
I love you so
Just hold me tight and don't let go

Hound dog walkin' upside the hill (yeah) (Don't let go, don't let go)
Love is draggin him through the mill, oh baby (Don't let go, don't let go)
If it wasn't for havin' you (Don't let go, don't let go)
I'd be bitin' and barkin' too (Don't let go, don't let go)

Hey yeah --
Oooh wee
OOH! This feelin's killin' me
Aw shucks


You know I wouldn't stop for a million bucks
I love you so
Just hold me tight and don't let go

One day baby you'll quit me yet (Don't let go, don't let go)
Hey, hey I'd be cryin and soakin wet (oh baby) (Don't let go, don't let go)
(Oh don't you know)
Baddest thing in the whole wide world (yeah) (Don't let go, don't let go)
If your lips kiss another girl (Don't let go, don't let go)

Hey, hey yeah --
Oooh wee
Oh, this feelin's killin' me
Aw shucks
You know I wouldn't stop for a million bucks
I love you so
Just hold me tight
Hey baby, just hold me tight (Don't let go, don't let go) Repeat until end
Baby baby just hold me tight
Well-a wella-a hold me tight
Yeah hold me tight
Hey hold me tight and don't let go
Hold me tight
Wont you baby just hold me tight
Hey baby won't ya hold me tight
Hey hold me tight and don't let go
Don't let go, oh don't let go
Don't let go, oh, don't let go
Hey, hey don't let go

(Fade out to end)

(SPOKEN INTRO)
With a key, you unlock a door to imagination
Beyond it is another dimension
A dimension of sight
A dimension of sound
A dimension of mind

You're moving through a land of both shadow and substance
Of things and ideas
Guiding you through this wondrous journey
Is the hypnotic sound of the twilight tone

When I hear this melody
This strange illusion takes over me
Through a tunnel of the mind
Perhaps a present or future time oh, oh
Out of nowhere comes this sound
This melody that keeps spinning 'round & 'round
Pyramidal locomotion
From a mystic unknown zone

Hearin' the twilight
Hearin' the twilight, twilight tone

Unpretentious girl from Memphis
Saw the future through her third eye
People came with skepticism
Picking, testing her precision, no, wo, oh, oh
Suddenly they heard this sound
This melody that keeps spinning 'round & 'round
A signpost up ahead is calling
Through the mystic unknown zone

Hearin' the twilight
Twilight swept away, feelin' the rhythm
Hearin' the twilight
Twilight swept away, ba da, loo da, ba da loo da
Hearin' the twilight
Twilight tone

Submitted for your approval. One Mr. Miller, who's about
to take a trip into oddness and obsolescene, through a
zone whose boundaries are that of imagination.
Accompanying him on this journey is the mesmerizing
sound of the Twilight Tone.

On a cold & rainy night
One Mister Miller had a rare flight
Glen was up there boppin' a rhythm
Then the engine stopped to listen with him
Play that beat, oh, oh
Suddenly he heard this sound
This melody that keeps spinning 'round & 'round
Now he resides and plays trombone
In the mystic unknown zone

Hearin' the twilight (repeat many times)
(Hearin' the twilight)

(Ned Washington & Victor Young)

The night is like a lovely tune
Beware, my foolish heart
How white the ever-constant moon
Take care, my foolish heart

There's a line between love and fascination
So hard to see on an evening such as this
For they both give the very same sensation
When you're lost in the magic of a kiss

His lips are much to close to mine
Take care, my foolish heart
But should our eager lips combine
Then let the fires start

For this time it isn't fascination
Or a dream that will fade and fall apart
This time it's love
This time it's love, my foolish heart

For this time it isn't fascination
Nor a dream that will fade and fall apart
This time it's love
This time it's love, my foolish heart