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Tiger Rag
Words by Harry DeCosta, Music by Original Dixieland Jazz Band - 1917
Verse:
Bb - -              F7 Bb
- - -              F7 Bb
C7 F               Cdim C7 F
C7 F               Cdim C7 F              F7
Bb - -              F7 Bb
- - -              F7 Bb
Chorus:
Bb - - -
- - F7 -
- - - -
- - Bb -              C7
Bb - - -
-                Ebm  Edim Bb7            Bb+ Eb          Bb7 Eb
Edim - Bb G7
C7 F7 Bb -              Bb7
Interlude:
Eb -                 Bb7 Eb -
- - Bb -
- - Eb -
F7 - Bb -
- - Eb -
Bb7 - Eb -
Bb7 - Eb -
Ab            Eb7 Ab             B7 Bb7 Eb           F7
Final Chorus:
Bb - - -
-               Ebm  Edim Bb7           Bb+ Eb            Bb7 Eb
Edim - Bb            Bb7 G7
C7 F7 Bb -            (end)
8-beat intro.  Play 4-beats for each cell, reading from left to right.
_______
 
Verse:
Long ago 'way down in the jungle, Someone got an inspiration for a tune,
And that jingle brought from the jungle, Became famous mighty soon.
Thrills and chills it sends thru you!
Hot! so hot, it burns you too!
Tho' it's just the growl of the tiger, It was written in a syncopated way,
More and more they howl for the "Tiger," Ev'rywhere you go today, They're shoutin':
 
Chorus:
Where's that Tiger! Where's that Tiger!
Where's that Tiger! Where's that Tiger!
Hold that Tiger! Hold that Tiger!
Hold that Tiger! Choke him, poke him, kick him and soak him!
Where's that Tiger? Where's that Tiger?
Where, Oh where can he be?
Low or Highbrow, They all cry now:
"Please play that Tiger Rag for me."
 
Interlude:
Lay right on that jungle serenade.
There's no greater melody played.
Shoot those low notes, Fast and slow notes,
'Til that Tiger has been slayed!
Whip it hard 'til it moans, Whip it hard 'til it growns,
Let 'er rip start to clip it's claws.
Leader man on your feet, Leader man start to beat,
That old Tiger If you want applause. Oh!
 
Final Chorus:
Where's that Tiger? Where's that Tiger?
Where, Oh where can he be?
Low or Highbrow, They all cry now:
"Please play that Tiger Rag for me."
_______
 
Listen to Roy Smeck play "Tiger Rag" (youtube timestamp 10:48)
 
Listen to Larry Kennedy perform "Tiger Rag" (mp3)
Recorded at 39 Main Restaurant in Tiburon, CA - 1975
_______

Arranged by Jim Bottorff
 
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email: jbott@ix.netcom.com