Tiger Rag
Freddy Johnson and His Orchestra Lyrics

The lyrics of the song "Tiger Rag" by Freddy Johnson and His Orchestra are an enthusiastic call to find the "tiger." The repeated phrase "where's that tiger" serves as a rallying cry, encouraging the band to keep playing until they locate the elusive feline who seems to have gone missing. The lyrics go on to suggest that the tiger should be "choked, poked, kicked, and soaked," perhaps indicating that the song is meant to be playful rather than aggressive. The song ultimately crescendos into a jubilant chorus, in which listeners of all backgrounds plead for the band to play the Tiger Rag.

The song "Tiger Rag" was originally written in 1917 by Nick LaRocca and the Original Dixieland Jazz Band. The song went on to become a jazz standard, with countless versions recorded by artists like Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, and Glenn Miller. The song's popularity was so widespread that it became a sort of shorthand for jazz music itself, representing a carefree and celebratory spirit. The term "tiger" was often associated with young, energetic musicians who played with a fierce intensity, while the "rag" part of the title comes from the syncopated rhythms that were characteristic of jazz during the 1920s and 30s. Overall, the song "Tiger Rag" has come to represent the vitality and spontaneity of jazz music, and it remains a beloved standard to this day.