Doo Wacka Doo
Celtic Thunder Lyrics

I've been playing some old records
I have been listening to some vintage music.

That I found in Grandpa's trunk
I discovered them while going through my grandfather's belongings.

Beside a wind-up gramophone
Next to an old-fashioned phonograph that needs to be wound up.

Beneath a pile of junk
Buried under a mess of unwanted items.

And in that dusty attic
Up in the cobweb-infested storage space of the house.

I enjoyed a music show
I had a pleasurable experience hearing live recordings of songs.

Listening to the melodies
Hearing the tunes and harmonies that make up the songs.

Of eighty years ago
From a time period that is eight decades removed from the present day.

Doo wacka doo wacka doo wacka doo wacka doo
A repeated phrase that captures the rhythmic quality of the music.

The band would play
The musicians would perform with instruments and vocals.

They'd danced the night away
People in attendance would move joyfully and energetically during the music show.

I long for all the magic
I yearn for the enchanting quality of the experience, one that may be difficult to recreate.

And the days of cabaret
The era of entertainment venues where live shows were performed.

Bring back those good old melodies of yesterday
Restore the appeal and pleasure of music from a time long ago.

In my youth, I studied music
When I was younger, I received an education in the art and science of music.

And it taught me how to sing
I learned vocal techniques and stylings from this education.

"Bella signora"
The title of a song that was part of my musical curriculum.

They took me to the opera
I was brought to see performances of a particular type of musical theater.

And I loved that kind of thing
I greatly enjoyed and appreciated the style and structure of the opera.

But then I'd listen to the stories
However, I would also hear tales from others that told of different forms of musical expression.

That my grandpa used to tell
Narrated to me by my grandfather from his own experiences and memories.

About the Roaring Twenties
Accounts of a vibrant era in American history known for radical cultural changes.

And the songs he knew so well
And the musical compositions that were especially memorable and beloved to him.

Then he'd talk about the flappers
He would also share stories of fashionable and independent women who embraced dances such as the Charleston.

And the way they used to dance
Describing the energetic and iconic moves popularized in the 1920s.

About the bootleg liquor
Tales involving the clandestine production and sale of illegal alcoholic beverages.

And the ballrooms of romance
Places where people would gather to dance and socialize, often with a romantic, flirtatious atmosphere.

Then, later, in the movies
As time went on, the art of cinema would explore and immortalize various musical themes and expressions.

There's dancing everywhere
The physical act of dancing would become a common motif in movies of many genres over the years.

My grandpa said he dreamed
Sharing a story that his grandfather related to him as a fanciful hope.

That he could move like Fred Astaire
Being so inspired by the skill and grace of a talented dancer that he wished he could emulate him.