[Intro – bright 1940s swing, upright bass, piano, brushed drums, muted trumpet, playful clarinet] [Three female voices, soft close harmony] Ooooo…. Oooooo…. [Verse 1 – lead female, sweet and playful] Meet me where the old road bends, Where the summer evening never ends, Past the fence and the honeybee, Come and kiss me by the old shade tree. [Lead female] Mama thinks I’m tucked in tight, Daddy thinks I said goodnight, But there’s one little place I’d rather be, Stealin’ kisses by the old shade tree. [Short brass flourish] [Chorus – all three voices, tight upbeat harmony] Kiss me, kiss me, by the old shade tree, Where nobody’s lookin’ but the moon and me, Hold me close, honey, one-two-three, And kiss me by the old shade tree! [Lead] Kiss me quick, then kiss me slow, [All three] Just how long we’ve got, nobody knows, If Daddy comes lookin’, you better flee— But first kiss me by the old shade tree! [Instrumental break – swinging clarinet and trumpet duet, walking upright bass] [Verse 2 – second female takes lead] Crickets play a little serenade, Fireflies are dancin’ in the shade, Your hand finds mine so naturally, Underneath that old shade tree. [Lead] You say, “Darlin’, just one more,” [Backup singers] That’s what you said before! [Lead] Then you grin and lean in close to me, Lord, I love that old shade tree. [Chorus – all three, fuller harmony] Kiss me, kiss me, by the old shade tree, Where nobody’s lookin’ but the moon and me, Hold me close, honey, one-two-three, And kiss me by the old shade tree! [Lead] Kiss me quick, then kiss me slow, [Backup singers, rising harmony] Better hurry up, so I can get home. [All three] If Daddy comes lookin’, you better flee— But first kiss me by the old shade tree! [Bridge – music drops softer, playful suspense] [Lead, spoken-sung] Oh, the porch light’s blinkin’… [Second female] That ain’t good! [Third female] Daddy’s searchin’ the whole neighborhood! [Lead] I oughta run home immediately… [Lead, coy] But honey, you’re standin’ awfully close to me… [Drum fill – brass kicks back in] [Final Chorus – energetic three-part harmony] So kiss me, kiss me, by the old shade tree, One last little kiss before I have to leave, Tomorrow night, same time, same place, you see, I’ll meet you by the old shade tree! [Lead] Kiss me once for luck— [Second female] Twice for me! [Third female] Three times, honey— [All three] ’Cause the kisses are free! [Big finish] Then run like the devil if Daddy sees You kissin’ me by the old shade tree! [Outro – tempo relaxes, soft close harmony] Wait for me… [Soft trumpet fills] [Three-part harmony, slowing] By the old… shade… treeeeee… [Final muted trumpet note]
