Lyrics by John Paul Larkin, better known as Scatman John or simply Scatman "In memoriam" [Intro – soft acoustic guitar arpeggios, warm pad, gentle breath FX] [Spoken, intimate tone] I’m the Scatman… [Verse 1 – gentle vocal delivery, slow tempo] Ski-bi dibby dib yo da dub dub Yo da dub dub Ski-bi dibby dib yo da dub dub Yo da dub dub [Pause – soft breath] I’m the Scatman… Ski-bi dibby dib yo da dub dub Yo da dub dub Ski-bi dibby dib yo da dub dub Yo da dub dub [Chorus – melodic and heartfelt, fingerpicking guitar] Ba-da-ba-da-ba-be bop bop bodda bope Bop ba bodda bope Be bop ba bodda bope Bop ba bodda... Ba-da-ba-da-ba-be bop ba bodda bope Bop ba bodda bope Be bop ba bodda bope Bop ba bodda bope [Verse 2 – tender vocal tone] Everybody stutters one way or the other So check out my message to you As a matter of fact, don’t let nothin’ hold you back If the Scatman can do it, so can you Everybody's sayin' that the Scatman stutters But doesn't ever stutter when he sings But what you don't know, I'm gonna tell you right now That the stutter and the scat is the same thing [Bridge – whispered intensity, cello or soft strings swell in] Yo, I'm the Scatman... Where’s the Scatman? I’m the Scatman... Why should we be pleasin' any politician heathens Who would try to change the seasons if they could? The state of the condition insults my intuition And it only makes me crazy and a heart like wood [Chorus – vocal harmonies added, soft percussion builds slightly] Ba-da-ba-da-ba-be bop bop bodda bope Bop ba bodda bope Be bop ba bodda bope Bop ba bodda Ba-da-ba-da-ba-be bop ba bodda bope Bop ba bodda bope Be bop ba bodda bope Bop ba bodda bope [Instrumental interlude – soft humming or light guitar solo] [Ski-bi dibby dib yo da dub dub… floating in the background with reverb] [Verse 3 – final emotional build-up] I hear you all ask 'bout the meaning of scat Well, I'm the professor, and all I can tell you is While you're still sleepin', the saints are still weepin' Things you call dead haven't yet had the chance to be born [Final Chorus – soaring vocals with emotional strength] Ba-da-ba-da-ba-be bop bop bodda bope Bop ba bodda bope Be bop ba bodda bope Bop ba bodda Ba-da-ba-da-ba-be bop ba bodda bope Bop ba bodda bope Be bop ba bodda bope Bop ba bodda bope [Ski-bi dibby dib yo da dub dub... softly repeated and fading] [Outro – gentle fingerpicking, fading whisper] Yeah… I’m the Scatman.
