The Ghost of Smoky Joe
(Koehler, Bloom)
Transcribed from vocals by Cab Calloway, recorded March 28, 1939,
From Cab Calloway and His Orchestra, 1939-1940, Chronological Classics 595.
Hi-de-hi-de-hi-de-hi,
Hi-de-hi-de-hi-de-hi,
Woh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh!
Woh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh!
You didn't see me climb through the window,
Nobody had to open that door;
I just climbed right through the wall
And I want you, one and all,
To stand aside and let me have the floor.
Take a look; I'm not such a stranger,
Here's a face you c**ies all ought to know,
You can tell me I'm not wanted,
But the joint will still be haunted;
'Cause I'm the ghost of Smoky Joe.
Remember when I kicked the bucket
In my mansion up on Striver's Row?
When they came and took me off in
A zillion dollar coffin;
'Cause I'm the ghost of Smoky Joe.
Tell me, do you remember Minnie?
Yeah, we remember Minnie.
That frail I never found.
You'll never recognise your Minnie...
You mean to say that Minnie
Quit kickin' the gong around?
I've got a date on my estate down in Hades,
Call my chariot so I can go.
And should the Moocher walk in,
Just tell her you've been talkin'
To the ghost of Smoky Joe.
Yes, I remember Minnie;
She's that frail I never found.
You mean to say that Minnie
Quit kickin' the gong around?
I've got a date on my estate down in Hades,
Call my chariot so I can go.
And should the Moocher walk in,
Just tell her you've been talkin'
To the ghost of Smoky.... [Scatting] ...-ky Joe!
(Koehler, Bloom)
Transcribed from vocals by Cab Calloway, recorded March 28, 1939,
From Cab Calloway and His Orchestra, 1939-1940, Chronological Classics 595.
Hi-de-hi-de-hi-de-hi,
Hi-de-hi-de-hi-de-hi,
Woh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh!
Woh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh!
You didn't see me climb through the window,
Nobody had to open that door;
I just climbed right through the wall
And I want you, one and all,
To stand aside and let me have the floor.
Take a look; I'm not such a stranger,
Here's a face you c**ies all ought to know,
You can tell me I'm not wanted,
But the joint will still be haunted;
'Cause I'm the ghost of Smoky Joe.
Remember when I kicked the bucket
In my mansion up on Striver's Row?
When they came and took me off in
A zillion dollar coffin;
'Cause I'm the ghost of Smoky Joe.
Tell me, do you remember Minnie?
Yeah, we remember Minnie.
That frail I never found.
You'll never recognise your Minnie...
You mean to say that Minnie
Quit kickin' the gong around?
I've got a date on my estate down in Hades,
Call my chariot so I can go.
And should the Moocher walk in,
Just tell her you've been talkin'
To the ghost of Smoky Joe.
Yes, I remember Minnie;
She's that frail I never found.
You mean to say that Minnie
Quit kickin' the gong around?
I've got a date on my estate down in Hades,
Call my chariot so I can go.
And should the Moocher walk in,
Just tell her you've been talkin'
To the ghost of Smoky.... [Scatting] ...-ky Joe!