Waitin' for the Robert E. Lee
Al Jolson & Bing Crosby Lyrics
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There's Daddy and Mammy
There's Ephraim and Sammy
On a moonlight night you can find them all
While they are waiting,
The banjos are syncopating
What's that they're saying?
What's that they're saying?
A, humming and swaying
It's the good ship Robert E. Lee
That's come to carry the cotton away!
Watch them shuffling along,
See them shuffling along!
Go take your best gal, real pal
Go down to the levy, I said to the levy,
And join that shuffling throng
Hear that music and song!
It's simply great, mate, waiting on the levy
Waiting for the Robert E. Lee!
The whistles are blowing, the smokestacks are showing
The ropes they are throwing, excuse me I'm going
To the place where all is harmonious
Even the preacher, he is the dancing teacher!
Have you been down there?
Were you around there?
If you ever go there you'll always be found there,
Why, dog-gone, here comes my baby
On the good old Robert E. Lee!
Watch them shuffling along,
See them shuffling along
Go take your best gal, real pal
Go down to the levy, I said to the levy,
And join that shuffling throng
Hear that music and song!
It's simply great, mate, waiting on the levy
Waiting for the Robert E. Lee!
The lyrics to "Waitin' for the Robert E. Lee" evoke a sense of nostalgia for the Southern United States during the 19th century. The song takes place on a moonlit levy in Alabama where the members of a community are waiting for the good ship Robert E. Lee to arrive and carry the cotton away. The banjos create a syncopated rhythm and the people hum and sway to the music. The atmosphere is idyllic and harmonious - even the preacher is a dancing teacher. The whistles and smokestacks of the ship are visible in the distance, and the ropes are thrown to dock. The anticipation and excitement are palpable - the people shuffle along down to the levy, and they join the shuffling throng, hearing the music and song that are simply great.
Line by Line Meaning
Way down on the levy in old Alabamy
Down on the riverbank in Alabama
There's Daddy and Mammy
Families are gathered there
There's Ephraim and Sammy
People with different names are present
On a moonlight night you can find them all
They're there at night under the moon
While they are waiting,
As they wait
The banjos are syncopating
Banjos are playing in rhythm
What's that they're saying?
What are they talking about?
While they keep playing
The music doesn't stop
Humming and swaying
People are humming and swaying to the music
It's the good ship Robert E. Lee
A ship called Robert E. Lee is coming
That's come to carry the cotton away!
Its purpose is to take the cotton away
Watch them shuffling along,
See them walking in a humorous way
See them shuffling along!
They're really walking like that
Go take your best gal, real pal
Bring your girlfriend or friend with you
Go down to the levy, I said to the levy,
Go down to the riverbank
And join that shuffling throng
And become part of that group of people walking humorously
Hear that music and song!
Listen to the music
It's simply great, mate, waiting on the levy
It's enjoyable to wait on the riverbank
The whistles are blowing, the smokestacks are showing
The ship is coming, and you can see the smokestacks and hear the whistles
The ropes they are throwing, excuse me I'm going
They are throwing ropes to the dock, so I have to go
To the place where all is harmonious
I'm going to a place where everything is peaceful and happy
Even the preacher, he is the dancing teacher!
Even the preacher is dancing and having a good time
Have you been down there?
Have you ever been to the riverbank?
Were you around there?
Have you spent time there?
If you ever go there you'll always be found there,
If you visit, you'll want to come back
Why, dog-gone, here comes my baby
Wow, here comes my girlfriend
On the good old Robert E. Lee!
On the ship called Robert E. Lee
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: L WOLFE GILBERT, LEWIS F MUIR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
CarlDuke
This is indeed the 1947 version inspired by the success of The Jolson Story movie, but Al also sang it back near the time of its birth in 1912. Wolfey Gilbert also wrote, among other hits, Down Yonder (1921), which was revived in 1951 and became one of that year's biggest hits. There were numerous recordings made of the song, and the Del Wood version spent almost half the year on the charts.
maureen1938
It's always a pleasure to listen to Al Jolson one of the best entertainers ever. Thanks for posting this !
CatsPjamas1
You're welcome!
katakisLives
@CatsPjamas1 great post
Plmncvb
In 1958 I was 13, rode my bike home and a lady who worked with my mother was visiting---she was about to get married and had a trunk full of stuff she was going to trash or donate, or somesuch. I was in a single-parent home with Mom, we didn't even own a record player (or car, either), but I liked music and I begged my mom to let me keep some of the records that (Mary Jane) was going to dump. This album depicted above was one of the treasures I came away with, and I hadn't a clue who Al Jolson was; along with another Jolson album I have both of them to this day and I'm 74. I'm (finally) working on a will, and would give this stuff away if I found a young person who would value it as I have---and do. I played that stuff a lot and learned the songs by heart, giving my mom entertainment when I tried to sing sounding like Jolson.
Tyler Flom
I love that you love this music! I am twenty-six years old and I too came across this through someone who was getting rid of old records; I washed it, put it on my turntable and now I love this album. I have been collecting records for 10 years now.
Gunnar Anderson
I would LOVE these records if you're looking for someone young and interested- I'm 15, I'm a record collector and also an antique collector.
Kaylin K
“What’s that they’re saying” this is my favorite line from Al Jolson. I have a passion for the 1940s era. Please consider me for the position of receiving these records.
CarlDuke
Eddie Cantor has a great version of this song that can be found online, but not on youtube. Cantor includes a wonderful story about Jolson referring to him as the greatest minstrel of them all, and telling how Jolson was the undisputed king of show biz and including a tale of Jolson and his love of betting on the horses. Jolson was so determined to be the guy who bet on the winner, that at times he would bet on every horse in a race, just so he could flash his winning tickets to his pals.
Creole Perez
Being from my fair Louisiana..New Orleans to be exact.. I've seen the paddle wheel steamers used as cruise ships coming to heaven in Dixie.. from the North ..love that Old Man River..the Gulf of Mexico..and the mighty Lake Ponchartrain.Makes this old Creole want to shuffle along.Thanks Al I've always loved your songs ..our elementary school principal who was also a fan had us sing "A Quarter to Nine .. during assemblies .. lining up for class after lunch .. and dances... great days ..!!!