Brubeck's style ranged from refined to bombastic, reflecting his mother's attempts at classical training and his improvisational skills. Much of his music employed unusual time signatures, a fact jokingly referred to by his greatest hits album 'Time Signatures: A Career Retrospective'. Upon his death, a number of commentators noted his crossover appeal to mainstream pop audiences, something putting him in the company of other jazz legends such as Louis Armstrong and Herbie Hancock among others.
It's a Raggy Waltz
Dave Brubeck Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm gonna dance with you. Now that you've
Heard this very funny beat let me see if
You can feel it in your feet. Yeah, you've got it!
Startin' to swing! Just forget ev'rything, raggy waltzin' with me.
It's not a waltz that's Viennese, Johann Strauss
T'would never please.
It's a raggy waltz, a raggy waltz, a raggy waltz, and
Dance is through you're gonna say, "Never stop ro-
Mancin', dancin' in this way makes me love you."
Out on the floor you'll be askin' for more, raggy
Waltzin' with me.
Come dance with me.
The lyrics to Dave Brubeck and Carmen McRae's song "It's a Raggy Waltz" describe a unique and infectious dance style. The title "Raggy Waltz" implies that the dance is a waltz but with a ragtime flair. The opening lines "Raggy waltz, a raggy waltz, a raggy waltz that I'm gonna dance with you" introduce the idea of this new dance that the singer wants to share with their partner.
As the song progresses, the singer encourages their partner to try out the dance and feel the beat in their feet. The phrase "Just forget everything" implies that this dance is a chance to let go and lose oneself in the music. The playful and joyful tone of the song is reinforced by the lines "Out on the floor you'll be askin' for more, raggy waltzin' with me" which suggests that the dance is so enjoyable that the singer's partner will want to keep going all night.
Overall, the lyrics to "It's a Raggy Waltz" convey a sense of lightheartedness and delight that can be found in the joy of dance. The song celebrates a unique dance style that blends two seemingly disparate genres - waltz and ragtime - into a fun and infectious whole.
Line by Line Meaning
Raggy waltz, a raggy waltz, a raggy waltz that
I'm gonna dance with you.
Let's dance a raggy waltz together!
Now that you've
Heard this very funny beat let me see if
You can feel it in your feet. Yeah, you've got it!
Startin' to swing! Just forget ev'rything, raggy waltzin' with me.
Now that you've heard the unique rhythm, let's see if you can feel it and start dancing with me. Forget everything else and just dance this raggy waltz with me.
It's not a waltz that's Viennese, Johann Strauss
T'would never please.
It's a raggy waltz, a raggy waltz, a raggy waltz, and
No other dance will do.
This is not the Viennese waltz of Johann Strauss, which wouldn't suit us. It's a raggy waltz, and no other dance will do.
And when the
Dance is through you're gonna say, "Never stop ro-
Mancin', dancin' in this way makes me love you."
After we're done dancing, you'll say that you never want to stop dancing this way because it makes you love me even more.
Out on the floor you'll be askin' for more, raggy
Waltzin' with me.
Once we're out on the dance floor, you'll be asking for more, eager to continue raggy waltzing with me.
Come dance with me.
Join me in dancing this raggy waltz!
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: DAVE BRUBECK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@madwoman8297
I'm 74 and just now trying to learn to play this.....yay for Dave Brubeck and retirement 😂
@gianpieromarcandalli5155
l was 16, this quartet is ever with me now I am 70 ! God bless all of them
@sitarnut
Same here Bro. I was 16 too, but now 78. Still playing Alto in a jazz group because of Paul Desmond. His immense Brain, and Cool, near vibrato-less tone has always "Sent me" as we used to say in 1958.
@andreashoppe1969
What time should we play in today?
Brubreck: yes!
@ohyouresilly7366
Such an incredible musician, both in technical style and in his creative capabilities to compose. I truly don't think there has ever been a better jazz pianist to live. And when ever Dave the duke was joined by Paul Desmond it was a legitimate dream duo.
@zenbooter
And I definitely enjoy them. A major influence for me. Been listening to them for 60+ yrs.
@sitarnut
Still playing Alto in a jazz group because of Desmond..60+ too. Really miss those days.
@1948dock
Dave Brubeck - a amajor influence in my life. I'll miss him terribly. God bless.
@aristotletwain
Boy does this take me back to younger days. I memorized many of Desmond's sax solos (played them on muted trumpet) and this too was my favorite.
@NikolaosEnmetanoia
One of the toughest but amazing piano pieces ever. Awesome. God bless