Alexander's Ragtime Band
Benny Goodman
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Come on and hear, come on and hear Alexander's Ragtime Band Come on and hear, come on and hear It's the best band in the land They can play a bugle call Like you never heard before So natural that you want to go to war That's just the bestest band what am, Honey Lamb Come on along, come on along Let me take you by the hand Up to the man, up to the man Who's the leader of the band And if you want to hear the Swanee River played in ragtime Come on and hear, come on and hear Alexander's Ragtime Band
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Written by: Irving Berlin
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
8 facts about this song
Historical Context"Alexander's Ragtime Band" was composed by Irving Berlin in 1911 and is widely considered the first major hit of his career. Alice Faye and Benny Goodman's rendition came years later in 1938.
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CompositionWhile its title propagates it as a ragtime song, "Alexander's Ragtime Band" actually features more of a march tempo than traditional syncopated ragtime melodies.
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InfluenceThis song was hugely influential for Berlin and helped establish his international reputation as one of the leading songwriters of his time.
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Movie ConnectionAlice Faye and Benny Goodman performed this song in the 1938 movie "Alexander's Ragtime Band." The film, named after the song, was a major box-office success and won an Oscar for Best Original Story.
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Song Reception"Alexander's Ragtime Band" was a major hit and sold over a million sheet music copies in 1911. Its success indirectly helped fuel the dance craze known as the foxtrot.
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Cultural ImpactThe song revived the popularity of ragtime music, leading to a ragtime revival in the '40s and '50s. Berlin, inspired by the song's success, went on to compose many more popular songs.
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Benny Goodman's RoleBenny Goodman, known as the "King of Swing", brought a unique energy to the song through his smooth clarinet playing. Goodman's orchestra also featured in the 1938 movie.
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Alice Faye's ImpactAs a leading lady in musical films, Alice Faye's interpretation of the song became one of her memorable performances. She sang it in the movie with a distinct sense of rhythm and phrasing that mirrored the era's style.
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Citation
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"Alexander's Ragtime Band Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 14 Jun 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/16401021/Benny+Goodman/Alexander%27s+Ragtime+Band>.
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