I've been kind of obsessed with songs about ghosts today, the day before Halloween, so I thought I'd look up these lyrics:


THE GHOST OF SMOKEY JOE
Words by Ted Koehler; music by Rube Bloom.
Premiered in the Cotton Club Parade, World's Fair Edition, 1939.
As recorded by Cab Calloway

Hi-de-hi-de-hi-de-hi!
(Hi-de-hi-de-hi-de-hi!)
Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh!
(Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh!)

You didn't see me climb through the window.
Nobody had to open that door.
I just climbed right through the wall,
And I want you, one and all,
To stand aside and let me have the floor.

Take a look; I'm not such a stranger.
Here's a face you cokeys all ought to know.
You can tell me I'm not wanted,
But the joint will still be haunted,
'Cause I'm the ghost of Smokey Joe.

Remember when I kicked the bucket
In my mansion up on Striver's Row?
When they came and took me off in
A zillion-dollar coffin,
'Cause I'm the ghost of Smokey Joe.

Tell me, do you remember Minnie?
(Yeah, we remember Minnie.)
That frail I never found.
(You'll never recognize your Minnie.)
You mean to say that Minnie
Quit kickin' the gong around?

I've got a date on my estate down in Hades.
Call my chariot so I can go,
And should the Moocher walk in,
Just tell her you've been talkin'
To the ghost of Smokey Joe.

[Tacit line]
Yes, I remember Minnie.
She's that frail I never found.
[Tacit line]
You mean to say that Minnie
Quit kickin' the gong around?

I've got a date on my estate down in Hades.
Call my chariot so I can go,
And should the Moocher walk in,
Just tell her you've been talkin'
To the ghost of Smokey—
[Scat lines]
—Joe!