[intro: ragtime piano alone, then rest of the band joins, along with lead female scat] (verse 1) The saloon was smoky and loud Filled with laughter and the smell of perfume Golly, but that was some big crowd! I ordered a Mary Pickford from the bartender And as I took my first sip of hooch The stage lights came up and the band entered There was the drummer and the bass A trumpet, a sax, and guitar came next The piano was the only empty space (verse 2) I attached a cigarette to my holder And my pal struck a match And suddenly the joint got quiet The piano lit up by the spotlight patch Slowly from the rear of the stage We could hear this amazing scat And Big Joe entered the circle of spotlight Where the old piano sat (chorus) Hey Big Joe, you piano man Play that ragtime swing! Big Joe could set the house on fire When he would play and sing! He was wide as he was tall He wore an old pinstripe suit and bowler hat But his long, slim fingers said it all And brother, Big Joe could scat! Hey Big Joe, you piano man Play that ragtime swing! (verse 3) Big Joe cracked his knuckles and sat One foot on the pedal, one foot keeping time Big Joe played hot piano and continued to scat As the band began to join And suddenly, the room came alive! Not one of us could still our feet And sister, that’s no jivin’! We grabbed whatever partner we could And let our feet do the drivin’! (chorus) Hey Big Joe, you piano man Play that ragtime swing! Big Joe could set the house on fire When he would play and sing! He was wide as he was tall He wore an old pinstripe suit and bowler hat But his long, slim fingers said it all And brother, Big Joe could scat! Hey Big Joe, you piano man Play that ragtime swing! (bridge) I danced with a soldier With dark curly hair And after two dances We knew why we were there Big Joe and Band was the bee’s knees So good we had to dance And they’ll hold a special place in my heart Because I found my true romance (chorus) Hey Big Joe, you piano man Play that ragtime swing! Big Joe could set the house on fire When he would play and sing! He was wide as he was tall He wore an old pinstripe suit and bowler hat But his long, slim fingers said it all And brother, Big Joe could scat! Hey Big Joe, you piano man Play that ragtime swing! [instrumental party and scat to out]
