SOUTH RAMPART STREET PARADE
Music by Ray Bauduc and Bob Haggart, 1937.
Words, Steve Allen, 1952.
As sung by Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters, 1952.

Do you hear the beat
Away down the street?
Hey, do you hear the neat
Little rhythm of the happy dancin' feet?
Well, now, look there! The people are runnin'
And right now, they're gonna have a lot of fun.
Make way, 'cause everybody's comin'
And you'll see a big parade.
Hey boy, you're really gonna celebrate.
Hear that? Listen to the clarinet!
Your feet are really gonna palpitate
When you are marchin' around.

Marchin' around,
Wonderful sound!
I hear the rattle-de-tat.
I love to hear the way the little drummer does that.
Oh, what a glorious day!
Out o' my way!
Make room and gimme some air.
I got a little rhythm to spare.

We all swing high, swing low,
Everybody rockin' to and fro.
It ain't fast or slow,
But oh, that glory, hallelujah!
Swing that thing.
Make the river bottom ring and sing.
Hush ma mouth!
That's the South
Rampart Street parade!

[Starting here, the lines overlap in a kind of counterpoint.]

Ev'ry boy's got a girl .
They're doin' it, soft-shoein' it.
The town's gonna whirl.
They're tryin' it, untyin' it.
Tonight's a jamboree.
They're jivin' it, revivin' it, I tell you.
Mister, and if you come along,
They're struttin' it, rug-cuttin' it,
You'll join in the song.
They're shakin' it and breakin' it.

[Starting here, they sing in unison.]

Hey, Dad!
Not bad!
I'm glad you dig!
Hey, boy, that band is grand.

I hear the trombone,
That shiny trombone,
Everybody playin' mighty fine as they march along,
And I never get enough of that Creole song.

Here now,
It's loud and clear now.
I really get a thrill—
I know I always will—
Whenever I can hear the rhythm of a band.
Way down yonder in the canebrake,
You can hear the music they make,
Ringin' out until the daybreak.
Louisiana band,
Gotta get a hand,
It's the South Rampart Street Parade.


[A very similar arrangement was also recorded by Bing Crosby and Rosemary Clooney.]