Dusky Stevedore
Frank Trumbauer and His Orchestra Lyrics
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Seen those steamboats
with their cargoes loaded high;
Watched a happy husky dusky having fun,
Toiling daily in the balzing sun.
He's just a Stevedore,
Down on that Swanee shore,
He's dusky brow is wet,
He doesn't mind the sweat,
Ascuffaling all the day long;
See his ragtime scuffaling gait.
Happy 'cause he's handling freight,
The leevee's heaven for,
The Dusky Stevedore.
Working and singing a song.
He's just a Stevedore.
Down on that Swanee shore,
Working and singing a song;
It's just those songs he sings.
That make his cares take wings,
They help ease the hours along.
Tho' his life's one rocky road,
He croons tunes that lighten his load,
Why can't we all be more
Like that old Stevedore,
Working and singing a song.
On the levee, ev'ry day's a perfect day,
Nature taught him how to laugh his cares away.
Just a grown up child who's happy all the while,
Even when he's weary he can smile.
He's just a Stevedore,
Down on that Swanee shore,
Working and singing a song;
He's dusky brow is wet,
He doesn't mind the sweat,
Ascuffaling all the day long;
See his ragtime scuffaling gait.
Happy 'cause he's handling freight,
The leevee's heaven for,
The Dusky Stevedore.
Working and singing a song.
He's just a Stevedore.
Down on that Swanee shore,
Working and singing a song;
It's just those songs he sings.
That make his cares take wings,
They help ease the hours along.
Tho' his life's one rocky road,
He croons tunes that lighten his load,
Why can't we all be more
Like that old Stevedore,
Working and singing a song.
The lyrics to "Dusky Stevedore" paint a vivid picture of a Southern dock worker, known as a stevedore, toiling away under the blazing Dixie sky in the banks of the Swanee River. The song describes the stevedore as a happy and resilient individual who doesn't mind the sweat and the hard work that comes with his job. Despite the physical labor and challenging conditions, the stevedore finds joy in his work and expresses it through his singing and carefree attitude.
The lyrics emphasize the simplicity and contentment of the stevedore's life, highlighting how he finds pleasure in his daily routine and the songs he sings while working. The mention of his "ragtime scuffaling gait" and his ability to handle freight with a smile on his face serves as a metaphor for finding joy in mundane tasks and making the most out of life's challenges. The stevedore is portrayed as a symbol of resilience and positivity, showcasing how music and a positive attitude can help one navigate through difficult circumstances.
The song further explores the stevedore's carefree nature, describing how he approaches each day on the levee as a perfect day. Nature is depicted as his teacher, showing him how to laugh away his worries and find happiness in the little moments. Despite the hardships he may face, the stevedore remains optimistic and continues to sing his songs that lighten his load and make the hours pass by more easily. The juxtaposition between the stevedore's physical labor and his inner happiness conveys a message of finding joy and peace in simplicity and embracing a childlike wonder in the face of adversity.
In conclusion, "Dusky Stevedore" celebrates the resilience, positivity, and simple pleasures of a dock worker's life in the Southern setting. The song encourages listeners to appreciate the beauty in everyday moments, find joy in their work, and let music be a source of comfort and solace during challenging times. The stevedore symbolizes the strength of the human spirit and serves as a reminder to embrace a carefree and optimistic attitude, even amidst life's struggles.
Lyrics © MUSIC.INFO FINLAND OY
Written by: Andy Razaf
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@domingowarner6397
Every melody played by Bix is turned into gold.
@bobboscarato1313
One of a kind!
@thendrjazz
Mismatch of photos with song title and lyrics. Stevedores were not sailors They were the longshoremen that moved the cargo on and off the ships. Here, i think the references iare mostly to Mississippi River steanboats. The wikipedia entry on "Ol Man River" actually refers to stevedore "Joe", the part played by Paul Robeson, William Warfield and others, who sings "Ol' Man River". They would certainly be dusky stevedores.
@thendrjazz
The sheet music cover at 0:10 fits the title.