A Tisket A Tasket
Ella Fitzgerald Lyrics


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A-tisket, a-tasket
A brown and yellow basket
I send a letter to my mommy
On the way I dropped it

I dropped it, I dropped it
Yes, on the way I dropped it
A little girlie picked it up
And put it in her pocket

She was truckin' on down the avenue
But not a single thing to do
She went peck, peck, peckin' all around
When she spied it on the ground

She took it, she took it
My little yellow basket
And if she doesn't bring it back
I think that I will die

A-tisket, a-tasket
I lost yellow basket
And if that girlie don't return it
Don't know what I'll do

Oh dear, I wonder where my basket can be
(So do we, so do we, so do we, so do we, so do we)
Oh gee, I wish that little girl I could see
(So do we, so do we, so do we, so do we, so do we)
Oh, why was I so careless with that basket of mine
That itty-bitty basket was a joy of mine

A-tisket, a-tasket
I lost my yellow basket
Won't someone help me find my basket
And make me happy again, again

(Was it green?) no no no no
(Was it red?) no no no no
(Was it blue?) no no no no
Just a little yellow basket





A little yellow basket

Overall Meaning

In Ella Fitzgerald's song A Tisket A Tasket, she sings about a little girl who dropped her green and yellow basket on the way while sending a letter to her mommy. A little girl picked it up and took it without knowing its importance. The little girl who lost the basket saw her losing one of her dearest possessions as she went out of her way to mention that the basket was a joy of hers. She sings about how she wishes to see the little girl who took it so that she can get it back.


The lyrics of the song have a sense of innocence and naivety. The song tells a story of a little girl who loses something important to her and the consequences of her carelessness. The song teaches us to be careful with our belongings and to learn from our mistakes.


Line by Line Meaning

A-tisket, a-tasket
I am singing about a green and yellow basket.


A green and yellow basket
I'm clarifying the colors for my listener to understand how the basket looks like.


I send a letter to my mommy
I wrote a letter to my mother and kept it in the basket, I was on my way to deliver it.


On the way I dropped it
I accidentally dropped the basket while I was walking.


I dropped it, I dropped it
I repeated to emphasize that I dropped it.


Yes, on the way I dropped it
Reiterating that I didn't lose it but dropped it.


A little girlie picked it up
A young girl spotted the basket on the ground and took it.


And took put it in her pocket
The girl picked the basket up and put it in her pocket.


She was truckin' on down the avenue
The little girl was walking down the street with the basket.


Without a single thing to do
She had nothing better to do at that moment.


She went peck, peck, peckin' all around
She was walking while making little sound effect noises.


When she spied it on the ground
She noticed the yellow basket on the pavement.


She took it, she took it
The little girl picked up the yellow basket that I had dropped.


And if she doesn't bring it back
I'm worried that she might not return the basket.


I think that I would die
I'm exaggerating in saying that I wouldn't be able to live life without that particular basket.


And if that girlie don't return it
If that young girl doesn't return my basket,


Don't know what I'll do
I'm unsure of what I will do next or how to proceed without the basket.


Oh dear, I wonder where my basket can be
I am wondering aloud where I can find my lost basket.


Oh gee, I wish that little girl I could see
I want to talk to the little girl who took my basket.


Oh, why was I so careless with that basket of mine
I'm scolding myself for dropping my basket carelessly.


That itty-bitty basket was a joy of mine
The small yellow basket brought me great happiness.


Won't someone help me find my basket
I'm asking for help to find my lost basket.


And make me happy again
When I find my basket, I will be content and joyful again.


(Was it green?) no no no no
I'm denying that the basket was green.


(Was it red?) no no no no
I'm also denying that the basket was red.


(Was it blue?) no no no no
The basket was not blue, I assure you.


Just a little yellow basket
I'm confirming that the basket was just a small yellow basket.




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Ella Fitzgerald, Van Alexander

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@adityakharade9868

A-tisket, a-tasket
A green and yellow basket
I send a letter to my mommy
On the way I dropped it

I dropped it, I dropped it
Yes, on the way I dropped it
A little girlie picked it up
And took put it in her pocket

She was truckin' on down the avenue
Without a single thing to do
She went peck, peck, peckin' all around
When she spied it on the ground

She took it, she took it
She took my yellow basket
And if she doesn't bring it back
I think that I would die

A-tisket, a-tasket
A green and yellow basket
And if that girlie don't return it
Don't know what I'll do

Oh dear, I wonder where my basket can be
Oh gee, I wish that little girl I could see
Oh, why was I so careless with that basket of mine
That itty-bitty basket was a joy of mine

A-tisket, a-tasket
I lost my yellow basket
Won't someone help me find my basket
And make me happy again

no no no no
(Was it red?) no no no no
(Was it blue?) no no no no
Just a little yellow basket

A little yellow basket



@marta3997

SIGN UP

A Tisket, A Tasket
Ella Fitzgerald
[Chorus:]
A-tisket A-tasket
A brown and yellow basket
I send a letter to my mommy
On the way I dropped it

I dropped it
I dropped it
Yes, on the way I dropped it

A little girlie picked it up
And put it in her pocket

[Verse 1:]
She was truckin' down the avenue
Not a single thing to do

She went peck, peck
Pecking all around
When she spied it on the ground

She took it
She took it
My little yellow basket
And if she doesn't bring it back
I think that I will die
[Chorus:]
A-tisket A-tasket
I lost my yellow basket
And if the girlie don't return it
Don't know what I'll do

[Verse 2:]
Oh dear I wonder where my basket can be
(So do we, so do we, so do we, so do we, so do we)
Oh gee I wish that little girl I could see
(So do we, so do we, so do we, so do we, so do we)

Oh why was I so careless
With that basket of mine?
That itty bitty basket
Was a joy of mine!

[Chorus:]
A-tisket
A-tasket
I lost my yellow basket

Won't someone help me
Find my basket
And make me happy again?
[Verse 3:]
(Was it green?) No, no, no, no
(Was it red?) No, no, no, no
(Was it blue?) No, no, no, no
Just a little yellow basket
A little yellow basket



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Release Date
January 1, 1939
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A Foggy Day (In London Town)
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All comments from YouTube:

@FredPickett

One of the best We ever had/R.I.P. Ms. Ella.

@Jenjen-qc5eq

I got this on my playlist, her voice so pure and beautiful. UK

@richardbellot3147

A n’importe quelle époque,Ella est parfaite de fantaisie,voix étendue,diction parfaite,swing,le TOP!!!🎶🎶🎶👍

@seanposey2264

Such an amazing and infectious voice.

@darrylwilkinson1296

absolutely slaps

@lindahemmings6746

A beautiful classic

@monroeovoxo1482

SUCH A BEAUTIFUL SOUL INSIDE OUT.

@ferrantepallas

what incredibly perfect intonation! not to mention style ... just great

@natestein5988

Very refreshing to hear great intonation!

@rayolivarez3106

Thru last week and this week I just burst out singing the chorus of this catchy tune by The Great Miss Ella Fitzgerald and I don't know why! I grew up with my Dad playing jazz on the piano at nights at our home and I've been a big fan of Miss Ella and Louis Armstrong for over 35 years now. They don't compose songs like this anymore....sadly!

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