He was born in Great Lever, Bolton, Lancashire and died in London.
In 1965 a televised tribute to Hylton called The Stars Shine for Jack was held in London at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. It included many artists including Arthur Askey, The Crazy Gang, Marlene Dietrich, Dickie Henderson, and Shirley Bassey.
Tiger Rag
Jack Hylton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Where's that tiger! Where's that tiger!
Hold that tiger! Hold that tiger ! Hold that tiger!
Choke him, poke him, kick him and soak him!
Where's that tiger? Where's that tiger?
Where oh where can he be?
Low or highbrow, they all cry now
"Please play that Tiger Rag for me"
Where's that tiger! Where's that tiger!
Where's that tiger! Where's that tiger!
Hold that tiger! Hold that tiger ! Hold that tiger!
Choke him, poke him, kick him and soak him!
Where's that tiger? Where's that tiger?
Where oh where can he be?
Low or highbrow, they all cry now
"Please play that Tiger Rag for me"
The lyrics to Jack Hylton's song "Tiger Rag" are a playful and energetic call to find the elusive tiger in question. The repetition of "Where's that tiger!" builds a sense of anticipation and excitement, as if the tiger is a valuable prize that everyone is searching for. The call to "hold that tiger" and physically subdue him with actions like choking, poking, kicking, and soaking only adds to the frenzied energy of the song.
Ultimately, the lyrics are a nod to the popularity of the "Tiger Rag" tune, which was first composed by the Original Dixieland Jazz Band in 1917. The song's catchy melody and upbeat tempo have made it a jazz classic, and its popularity has endured even after over 100 years. The line "Low or highbrow, they all cry now 'Please play that Tiger Rag for me'" is a testament to the universal appeal of the song, which transcends class or social status.
Line by Line Meaning
Where's that tiger! Where's that tiger!
Where is the lively spirit that we know as the tiger?
Where's that tiger! Where's that tiger!
Where is the energy that we associate with the tiger?
Hold that tiger! Hold that tiger ! Hold that tiger!
Capture the tiger's liveliness and energy and hold onto it tightly.
Choke him, poke him, kick him and soak him!
Push the tiger's energy to the limit by unleashing it through vigorous actions.
Where's that tiger? Where's that tiger?
Where is that lively and energizing force that we need in our music?
Where oh where can he be?
Where can we find this vitalizing force that brings life and excitement to music?
Low or highbrow, they all cry now
Regardless of one's social status or culture, everyone now wants to experience the tiger's energy in music.
"Please play that Tiger Rag for me"
Please perform the song that captures the lively and exhilarating spirit of the tiger.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Antonio Sbarro, Edwin Edwards, Henry Ragas, Larry Shields, Sidney Bechet
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Michael Law
It must’ve been so exciting to hear this Orchestra play live… And everything from memory, apparently! No wonder they were so admired, not least in France and Germany.
Michael Law
Amazing playing and sound quality too!
Nick Dellow
Thanks Michael. Good to hear from you.
John Leifert
Bravo! One of the greatest hot dance records ever cut by Hylton - and I'm proud to say I own a copy! Yours in much better shape, I must say. Keep at it! 😄
BassetHoundTrio
One of the best! I have two copies, both a bit rough - yours sounds superb!
Nick Dellow
Many thanks. I have seen a few copies of this Hylton HMV over the years, so hopefully one will come your way in nice condition.
Cyrus Bahmaie
outstanding!
Nick Dellow
Thanks Cyrus
Doge Records
Was this recorded with the same system that Noble Sissle's "Kansas City Kitty" was? If I remember correctly, that was recorded in an early high fidelity system.
Nick Dellow
As far as I know, both were recorded using the standard Western Electric condenser microphone set up, which always produced good results. "Kansas City Kitty" is listed in discographies as having been recorded at HMV's studios in Hayes, but it sounds more like Small Queens Hall (as was this Hylton side).