Nagasaki
Cab Calloway
Become A Better Singer In Only 30 Days, With Easy Video Lessons!
Fellows, if you're arn I will spin a yarn That was told to me by Able Seaman Jones Once he had the blues so he took a cruise Far away from night-clubs and from saxophones He said, "Yo ho, I've made a certain port And when you talk about real He-Man sport" Hot ginger and dynamite There's nothing but that at night back in Nagasaki Where the fellers chew tobaccy And the women wicky wacky, woo The way they can entertain Would hurry a hurricane back in Nagasaki Where the fellers chew tobaccy And the women wicky wacky, woo In Fujiama you get a mama Then your troubles increase In some pagoda, she orders soda Earth shake, milk shakes, ten cents a piece They kissy and huggy nice Oh, by jingo, it's worth the price back in Nagasaki Where the fellers chew tobaccy And the women wicky wacky, woo Now when the day is warm You can keep in form With a bowl of rice beneath a parasol Every gentle man has to use a fan And they only use suspenders in the fall That's where the girls don't think of rings and furs Gosh, it's the nicest place that ever weres They give you a carriage free The horse is a Japanee back in Nagasaki Where the fellers chew tobaccy And the women wicky wacky, woo They sit you upon the floor No wonder your pants get sore back in Nagasaki Where the fellers chew tobaccy And the women wicky wacky, woo With sweet Kimoner, I pulled a boner I kept it up at high speed I got rheumatics and then psyatics Halatosisis, that's guaranteed You just have to act your age Or wind up inside a cage back in Nagasaki Where the fellers chew tobaccy And the women wicky wacky, woo With an ice-cream cone and a bottle of tea You can rest all day by the hickory tree But when night comes round, oh gosh, oh gee Mother, Mother, Mother, pin a rose on me Those pretty mamas in pink pajamas They try to give you a kiss, those torrid teases In B.V.D.ses Heaven help a sailor on a night like this Not too gentle and not too rough But you've got to tell them when you've had enough Back in Nagasaki where the fellers chew tobaccy And the women wicky wacky, woo
Struggling with Nagasaki? Become a better singer in 30 days with these videos!
Written by: MORT DIXON, HARRY WARREN
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, FOUR JAYS MUSIC PUB, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
10 facts about this song
Type of Song"Nagasaki" is a jazz standard adopted by Cab Calloway. Originating in the late 1920s, this song follows a quick-tempoed jazz rhythm and is characteristic of the big band era.
|
ComposerThe song was not originally composed by Cab Calloway. The actual music was written by Harry Warren with the lyrics done by Mort Dixon.
|
Release DateThough Cab Calloway recorded numerous versions of "Nagasaki" throughout his career, his most famous one was probably released in the early 1930s during the height of his career.
|
Popularity"Nagasaki" quickly became a popular jazz standard and was covered by numerous artists. Besides Cab Calloway, other prominent musicians like Benny Goodman and Louis Armstrong have also recorded their own versions of the song.
|
Song InspirationThe song's title, "Nagasaki," is actually a city in Japan. However, the lyrics of the song are not directly connected to this location. Instead, the song is noted for its upbeat tempo and whimsical lyrics.
|
Live PerformanceCab Calloway's performances of "Nagasaki" were often lively and exciting. With his playful scat singing and charismatic dance moves, Calloway created a memorable rendition of this jazz standard.
|
Influence on Popular Culture"Nagasaki" and Calloway's renditions of it had a significant influence on pop culture, particularly jazz and big band music. The song's lasting popularity is evident in its numerous covers and its inclusion in movie soundtracks and television shows.
|
Racial ThemesSome interpretations of "Nagasaki" have suggested that the song can be read through a racial lens. The tune's light-hearted depiction of a foreign place might reflect Western misconceptions of Asia during the early 20th century.
|
Cab Calloway's InfluenceThe continued popularity of "Nagasaki" helped solidify Cab Calloway's status as a leading figure in the world of jazz music. His iconic scat singing and charismatic stage presence contributed to his long-lasting legacy.
|
Song's LegacyToday, "Nagasaki" remains a favorite among both jazz musicians and jazz enthusiasts, often performed by contemporary jazz artists and included in jazz compilations.
|
Citation
Use the citation below to add these lyrics to your bibliography:
Style:MLAChicagoAPA
"Nagasaki Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 4 May 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/4872818/Cab+Calloway/Nagasaki>.
Discuss the Nagasaki Lyrics with the community:
Report Comment
We're doing our best to make sure our content is useful, accurate and safe.
If by any chance you spot an inappropriate comment while navigating through our website please use this form to let us know, and we'll take care of it shortly.
Attachment
You need to be logged in to favorite.
Log In