Dance to the Big Band Swing
by Glen Newton
Copyright 1999 by Glen E. Newton. All rights reserved.
Premiere public performance November 13, 1999, at the Dance of the Decades fundraiser for the Roseville Area Arts Council.

If you wanna hear those wah-wah trumpets,
If you dig that Freddy Green guitar,
If you like to swing, and other music don't mean a thing,
Grab your dancing shoes and get the car!

  You can dance in a ballroom, cafeteria or gym,
Dance in a hangar under a bomber's wing,
Dance in the street to a syncopated beat,
Hear that music and Dance to the Big Band Swing!

If it sounds like Dorsey on the trombone,
If it sounds like Basie on the keys,
If the saxes get the ensemble sound of Charlie Barnet,
Then that band has what it takes to please!

  You can dance in a ballroom, cafeteria or gym,
Dance in a hangar under a bomber's wing,
Dance in the street to a syncopated beat,
Hear that music and Dance to the Big Band Swing!

  Hear that music and Dance to the Big Band Swing!

Hear that music and Dance to the Big Band Swing!


Audio Excerpt Streaming Audio Format
Vocal chorus - audience claps and rhythm section doesn't play; the Rosetones, vocal quartet ; 29 secs.; recorded live in the Roseville Area High School auditorium, April 4, 2000. 28.8 Stereo RealAudio (77KB)
28.8 Stereo Windows Media Audio (75KB)

Alternate first verse lyrics for use when the guitarist is absent:

If you wanna hear those wah-wah trumpets,
If you really dig that walking bass,
If you like to swing, and other music don't mean a thing,
We can put a smile up on your face!

Alternate second verse lyrics for use when the solo is too high for the first trombone:

If it sounds like Krupa on the drum set,
If it sounds like Basie on the keys,
If the saxes get the ensemble sound of Charlie Barnet,
Then that band has what it takes to please!

If there's no drummer either, as was the case with the June 17, 2006, concert, and somebody is filling in by playing congas, the second line of the second verse is "If it sounds like Tito on the congas," a reference to legendary Latin percussionist Tito Puente.

Click here for a picture of dancers under a bomber's wing.

This page was last updated
Friday, December 29, 2023.


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