Alma Cogan was Britain's most successful female recording artist of the 195… Read Full Bio ↴Alma Cogan was Britain's most successful female recording artist of the 1950's. Born in London in 1932, her early recordings were mainly ballads, in the style of Anne Shelton. But by 1954, this was to all change. Her first major hit was "Bell Bottom Blues", and she scored her only number one in Britain with "Dreamboat" in 1956. Novelty songs were extremely popular at the time, and Alma recorded a number of these, including "I Can't Tell A Waltz From A Tango", "Twenty Tiny Fingers" and "Never Do A Tango With An Eskimo". She was known for the giggle in her voice when she sang and was affectinaltely known as The Girl With A Laugh In Her Voice. Her extravagant dresses were also a trademark. Her final UK hit was "Cowboy Jimmy Joe" in 1961, but was fast becoming an International Artist, with hits in Sweden, Germany, Israel and Japan - she had a number one hit in Japan with "Just Couldn't Resist Her With Her Pocket Transistor" which was at the top spot for over six months. As the novelty numbers were fast becoming old-fashioned by the start of the 1960s, she recorded a number of jazz standards and pop records, including five songs written by the Beatles - these recordings can be found on a number of CDs. Famed for her showbiz parties, with guests like Cary Grant, Noel Coward and the Beatles, she was never out of the public eye until ovarian cancer tragically cut her career short. She died on the 26th October 1966, aged just 34.

Banjo's Back In Town
Alma Cogan Lyrics

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Clap your hands altogether now
The banjo's back in town
Clap your hands lovely weather now
The banjos back in town
Kick your heels to the ringing of the vulcans swinging through
What a town! Round and round with a doo wacka doo wacka doo
You gotta step your feet to the rhythm back in 1925
Get that beat keep the rhythm alive and with that fellow down below

Just give it that Yodee-oh-doh

That ban-ban-banjos back in town.
That ban-ban-banjos back in town.

Overall Meaning

The song "The Banjo's Back In Town" by Alma Cogan is a catchy and upbeat tune that celebrates the return of the banjo to town. The lyrics are filled with enthusiasm and encouragement for everyone to join in the celebration by clapping their hands and kicking their heels to the ringing of the banjo. The song takes the listener on a journey back to the 1920s, when banjos were an essential part of popular music and dancing.

The chorus of the song is particularly infectious, with its repetition of the line "That ban-ban-banjo's back in town." It's as if the banjo itself is a star attraction, drawing people back to the town and inspiring them to dance and have a good time. The verses of the song paint a picture of a lively and bustling town, with people stepping to the rhythm and enjoying the music together. The "fellow down below" is likely a reference to the banjo player himself, who is keeping the rhythm alive and encouraging everyone to join in.

Overall, "The Banjo's Back In Town" is a feel-good song that celebrates the joy of music and dancing. It's a reminder that even in tough times, we can always come together to share in something that brings us happiness and unity.

Line by Line Meaning

Clap your hands altogether now
Let's all clap our hands in unison

The banjo's back in town
The banjo has returned to the city

Clap your hands lovely weather now
It's such a nice day, let's clap our hands again

Kick your heels to the ringing of the vulcans swinging through
Let's dance to the music of the band as they play their instruments

What a town! Round and round with a doo wacka doo wacka doo
This city is amazing! The music is so catchy and fun

You gotta step your feet to the rhythm back in 1925
We need to dance to the old rhythm of the 1920s

Get that beat keep the rhythm alive and with that fellow down below
Let's stay on beat and dance with the person next to us

Just give it that Yodee-oh-doh
Sing along and enjoy the music with a Yodee-oh-doh

That ban-ban-banjos back in town.
The banjo has returned to the city

Writer(s): Earl Shuman, Marshall Brown, Alden Shuman

Contributed by Gabriel C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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Comments from YouTube:

@annoldham3018

5y↑3

Remember this being sung whilst Ed Balls did the Charleston in strictly come dancing 🤗🕺💃

@DonsChocolate

11y↑4

First time I have heard this lovely lady. She is great!

@davidhartley8049

5y↑1

This is Alma on top form

@lateforbreakfast

13y↑2

Ah Ha! Alma Cogan, this lady was played and played in the UK in the 1950's She was a great singer and showwoman...I read somewhere that she tried out for a singing spot with an orchestra and was told to go away and learn to sing, bet that orchestra leader was red faced as time went on...