Stomp Of King Porter

(album: Swing - 1997)

Gather roun' 'n' hear my story
Oh boy!
'Bout the time when Jelly Roll was in town
(Stomping it off, stomping it off...)
He heard a local pianist
What joy!
Stomping out music on an old upright pi-ano
Here comes King
That was downright ragged in a Scott Joplin way
(Here he comes-Master of the stomp)
Ol' Jelly knew the fella could play
Dig him!
By the things he heard his right hand say
(Now, we're gonna romp)

(There was no doubting that the man could swing)

When Jelly Roll demanded his name
Hail! King Porter
Well, the man responded "Porter King"
(Dig 'Im!) By order!
Well, Jelly lef' th' city, but he wrote
(Dig 'Im!) Y' wanna dig 'im
A romping ditty 'bout the Porter
(Dig 'Im!) Y' gonna dig 'im
Who was "King O' The Stomp"
Porter King sho' can stomp

Jelly wrote a ditty 'bout a fella who could romp
This is the tune "King Porter Stomp"

When Porter's striding hands are flying
An' all his fingers are testifying
His two feet stomping in ragged time
That's a feeling that is so sublime, y' dig it?

He's generating so much excitement
Y' keep forgetting just what uptight meant
N' that's that fella named Porter King
His style's the essence o' Swing

(Well, well, well)

Oh, well, go on 'n' tell it

When Jelly first heard Porter King
He declared he heard the very heart an' soul of swing
A certain ragged kind o' romp
In between a jump and a stomp
When Jelly heard, well, he really knew
Because he played too
That Porter was a King, really 'n' truly a stone king
Another thing, something never heard of
"Something else" is the sort o' phrase
A fella'd prob'ly have t'use
If'e was gonna describe
The way Porter plays

There never was an never's gonna be
Another strider fine as he
I know no other ear will ever hear another like it here

Who you hunchin'?
Dig them stomping
See them bunching
They rompn'

Sweat is popping
Hips're rolling
Funk is dropping
Souls souling

Heat is massing
Folks're swinging
Time is passing
Arms flinging

There's contagion
Taking over
Swing is raging
All over

Hey!
Stop that!
That stomp knocked me outta my hat!
Who's that abusing piano?
Tell me his name, because he's boun' f' fame
'N how'd he figure such rhythm?
Did he bring it here with 'im?
What kinda cat is King Porter?
Plinking an' plunking that romp he calls a stomp

Everybody grooving and giggling
Mercy! Take a look at that wiggling
See the cutie in the corner
She's losing her blues by stomping outta her shoes
The folks are hooping 'n' hopping
Dig how all the fingers're popping
Over there's a wild cat stone drunk
The floor be his bunk

Stomp, stomp, stomp, stomp
Just keep on balling till we
Start falling right through the floor
It's so natch'ral
You want more?
Come git it!

Porter, he's the King!
He knows how to stomp an' swing
That's King Porter
Master of how to stomp

Outside the moon is beaming
Inside the joint is steaming
Them folks can really, really party
All night long
Porter's stomping
Gits everybody romping
Then everybody knows that one thing
Porter's king

Who's the absolute Master of Stomp?
King Porter!
The rollicking Rajah of Romp?
King Porter!
The plinkin'est plunker
This side o' the border?
Who? Except King Porter

Who is the King of the Keys?
King Porter!
An' constantly able to please?
King Porter!
An' who tickles ivories like nobody livin'?
That's King Porter! He's the man!

Unloosen yo' shoes
(Unloosen yo' shoes)
Start paying them dues
(Start paying them dues)
Git shed o' them blues
Git shed o' them
Dang them blue! You don't shed 'em, you lose
Spend a quarter!
(Spend a quarter)
Give the order!
(Give the order)
Mr. Porter
Mister Barrellhouse man git t' stomping
Make 'em git hot, git 'em rompin
The got t' dig King Porter Stomp!