Darktown Strutters Ball
Fats Waller His Rhythm And Orchestra Lyrics

The lyrics of Fats Waller's "Darktown Strutters Ball" describe a night out on the town with a date, set to the backdrop of a jazz band playing at the "Darktown Strutters Ball". The singer is eager to pick up their date at half past eight and warns them not to be late. Once they arrive, they are encouraged to dance all over the floor and even onto the singer's shoes. The song references the "Jelly Roll blues", which was a popular style of jazz music in the 1910s and 1920s.

The song taps into the zeitgeist of the roaring 20s in America, which was the time of the Harlem Renaissance and the Jazz Age. Jazz music, which originated in the African American community, was experiencing a surge in popularity and was being appropriated by mainstream American culture. The lyrics of "Darktown Strutters Ball" touch on themes of nightlife, dating and having fun, while also referencing the Black culture and music that was prevalent at the time.

Overall, "Darktown Strutters Ball" is a fun and lighthearted song that captures the spirit of the time in which it was written. Its catchy tune and lyrics ensured that it became a popular hit in the 1920s, and it has since been covered and remade countless times.