Old Music Master

One night long ago by the light of the moon

An old music master sat composing a tune

His spirit was soaring and his heart full of joy

When right out of nowhere stepped

A little colored boy

You gotta jump it, music master

You gotta play that rhythm faster

You're never gonna get it played

On the Happy Cat Hit Parade

You better tell your friend Beethoven

And Mister Reginald De Koven

They better do the same as you

Or they're gonna be corny too

Long about 1917

Jazz'll come upon the scene

Then about 1935

You'll begin to hear swing

Boogie woogie and jive

You gotta show that big broadcaster

That you're a solid music master

And you'll achieve posterity

That's a bit of advice from me

The old music master

Simply sat there amazed

As wide-eyed and open-mouthed

He gazed and he gazed

How can you be certain little boy

Tell me how?

Because I was born, my friend

A hundred years from now

He hit a chord that rocked the spinet

And disappeared into the infinite

And up until the present day

You can take it from me

He's as right as can be

Ev'rything has happened that-a-way