Waiting for the Robert E. Lee
Dean Martin With Dick Stabile And His Orchestra 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!
"Waiting for the Robert E. Lee" is a song by Dean Martin with Dick Stabile and his Orchestra. The song takes listeners to the levy (levee) in old Alabamy, where Daddy, Mammy, Ephraim, and Sammy are waiting for the arrival of the Robert E. Lee boat. It is said to be a moonlight night, and people have gathered to hear the banjos syncopating, throwing ropes, and puffing smoke from the smokestacks. The lyrics of the song are celebratory as everyone is ready to board the Robert E. Lee boat to carry cotton away. The song invites listeners to join the shuffling throng as they hear the music and the songs. The preacher even acts as the dancing teacher, and everyone, including lovers, is waiting for the arrival of the boat for a good time.
Line by Line Meaning
Way down on the levy in old Alabamy
Down in Alabama by the riverbank
There's Daddy and Mammy
Families are there to wait for the boat
There's Ephraim and Sammy
Folks with names like Ephraim and Sammy too
On a moonlight night you can find them all
Everyone gathers there on a moonlit night
While they are waiting
As they wait by the water's edge
The banjos are syncopating
The music they hear has a syncopated rhythm
What's that they're saying?
Wondering what the music means
While they keep playing
The music keeps on going
A, humming and swaying
Everyone joins in humming and swaying
It's the good ship Robert E. Lee
The boat they're waiting for is called the Robert E. Lee
That's come to carry the cotton away!
The boat is going to take away the cotton harvest
Watch them shuffling along
Observing people walking in step
See them shuffling along!
Watching them walk in rhythm
Go take your best gal, real pal
Bring your sweetheart or your closest friend
Go down to the levy, I said to the levy
Head down to the riverbank
And join that shuffling throng
Join in with everyone who's walking to the music
Hear that music and song!
Listening to the pleasant music being played
It's simply great, mate, waiting on the levy
Waiting by the riverbank is just fantastic
Waiting for the Robert E. Lee!
Waiting eagerly for the boat
The whistles are blowing, the smokestacks are showing
The boat is pulling into the dock and making noise
The ropes they are throwing, excuse me I'm going
The crew is throwing ropes to dock the boat, so I need to go help
To the place where all is harmonious
To the spot where the music sounds just right
Even the preacher, he is the dancing teacher!
Even the preacher is helping people dance and have a good time
Have you been down there?
Have you ever been to the riverbank?
Were you around there?
Have you ever been nearby?
If you ever go there you'll always be found there,
If you visit, you will always enjoy yourself
Why, dog-gone, here comes my baby
Oh my goodness, there comes my sweetheart
On the good old Robert E. Lee!
She is on the boat we've been waiting for!
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: L WOLFE GILBERT, LEWIS F MUIR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind