Tiger Rag
Jelly - Roll Morton Lyrics

The lyrics to Jelly Roll Morton's song "Tiger Rag" express a desire to find and hold onto the elusive "tiger" that seems to be on the loose. The repeated refrain of "Where's that tiger?" reflects a frenzied search, with the repeated exhortations to "hold that tiger" indicating a desire to capture and control the wild, unpredictable animal. The rest of the lyrics describe a range of violent tactics that might be employed to subdue the tiger, including choking, poking, kicking, and soaking it.

While the lyrics to "Tiger Rag" are relatively simple and repetitive, they reflect the energy and excitement of the musical genre that Jelly Roll Morton helped to pioneer. Jazz music, and particularly early jazz like Morton's, was characterized by its improvisational spirit and its ability to capture the frenetic energy of life in urban America during the early 20th century. The repeated calls to play the "Tiger Rag" reflect a desire for musicians to tap into that energy and create a sound that was both new and exciting.

Overall, the lyrics to "Tiger Rag" reflect the spirit of early jazz music, with its emphasis on improvisation, energy, and excitement. While the lyrics themselves may seem simple, they capture the complex cultural moment in which the song was written and reflect the sense of freedom and possibility that was then emerging in American music and culture.