Back when a nickel would buy A jug jigger of respectable rye Yeah, the players in the honky tonks Would have to work on a slide One, two, was known to a few Some steady habitues too So the word of mouth spread around the south Very entrez-nous
You better dig that jazz band ball 'Cause it's the ball of them all All five positions in the small saloon Inventin' the rag time tune Because they made up their own brand Without a note up on the stand And they called it D.I.X.I.E Hot pan alley candy land
Well sir you know it caught on What's more it was strictly bontom
Cause like the winner at the starting gate The music got it and gone It moved from over the tracks Into the society shacks It was wonderful And deductible, from the income tax
You better dig that jazz band ball 'Cause it's the ball of them all When the trumpet player takes a monologue The people shout 'well ooh that dog' And if you ask how come that yell They kinda grin then say well When the band plays J.A. double zee It's a B.A. double L When the band plays J.A. double zee It's a B.A. double L