Alexander's Ragtime Band

About Alexander's Ragtime Band

"Alexander's Ragtime Band" is a song by Irving Berlin. It was his first major hit, in 1911. It might be regarded as a sequel to "Alexander and His Clarinet," which Berlin wrote with Ted Snyder in 1910. The earlier song is mostly concerned with a reconciliation between Alexander Adams and Eliza Johnson, but also highlights Alexander's novel musical style. It is believed by some (especially jazz-ragtime circles in New Orleans, and the Watzke family of New Orleans), that Berlin was writing about a real band and bandleader, who were popular at the time in New Orleans, and actually was known as Alexander's Ragtime Band, after its leader, Alexander Joseph Watzke (also known as "King" Watzke or Alex Watzke). From 1904 to 1911 or later, this band was one of the most popular white ragtime and jazz bands in New Orleans. more »

Year:

2014

3:02

245 Views

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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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Irving Berlin

Irving Berlin (May 11, 1888 – September 22, 1989) was a Russian-born American composer and lyricist, widely considered one of the greatest songwriters in American history. He published his first song, "Marie from Sunny Italy", in 1907 and had his first major international hit, "Alexander's Ragtime Band" in 1911. more »

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