PAPA-DE-DA-DA (A NEW ORLEANS STOMP)
by Spencer Williams, Clarence Todd & Clarence Williams, ©1925.
As recorded by Bessie Brown, on "Original Bessie Brown / Liza Brown 1925-1929" (Document Records, DOCD-5456, 1996)

Way down in New Orleans,
The land of dreamy scenes,
There's a man, a music man.
He plays and sings, buck-and-wings.
Papa tree-top tall,
That boy's long and lean, that's all.
Ev'ry night, it's a sight.
You should hear folks call.

Papa-de-da-da, he's a ladies' man,
Papa-de-da-da, sweetest in the land.
Papa-de-da-da, watch him clap his hands.
That boy can play piano grand.
Papa-de-da-da, he can whip them blues.
Papa-de-da-da, always spreadin' news,
He's neat and keen; that's what I mean.
Got all the girls in New Orleans.
Papa-de-da, de-da-da, he's the hottest man in town.

Now there ain't no use in talkin'; he's the cat's meow.
He's got the gals all guessin' 'cause he knows just how
To hug and love and kiss 'em ev'ry night and day.
Lawd, they can't live without him; that's just what they say.

He's long, lean and lanky and he knows his stuff.
Talkin' gals are crazy 'cause he's never rough.
He's born in Louisiana; he's a sweet Creole,
Milky(?) in his manner like a sweet jelly roll.

Papa-de-da-da, he's a ladies' man,
Papa-de-da-da, sweetest in the land.
Papa-de-da-da, watch him clap his hands.
That boy can play piano grand.
Papa-de-da-da, always spreadin' news,
Papa-de-da-da, that boy can play the blues.
He's neat and clean; that's what I mean.
Got all the gals in New Orleans.
Papa-de-da, de-da-da, he's the hottest man in town.

He's neat and clean, that's what I mean.
Got all the gals in New Orleans.
Papa-de-da, de-da-da, he's the hottest man in town.

[Other notable early recordings were by Clarence Williams' Blue Five with vocalist Eva Taylor, 1925; St Louis Rhythm Kings, 1925; Virginia Liston, 1925; Ed Smalle, 1925; Birmingham Serenaders, 1935.]