Robbie Coltrane Introduces Avenue C
Jools Holland Lyrics

Brass: N. Y. I dig
The brass section loves New York City

Reeds: What about it?
The reed section asks for more details

Brass: N. Y. is big
The brass section thinks New York City is large

Reeds: People tout it
The reed section acknowledges that many people praise New York City

Brass: I flip my wig
The brass section is getting excited

Reeds: What about?
The reed section wants to know what's causing the excitement

Brass: 'Bout a street I dig
The brass section is excited about a particular street

Piano (Basie's solo): One day I was walkin' n'
The pianist starts telling a story

Finally came upon a series of alphabet streets
The pianist found a group of streets named after letters of the alphabet

A-be -see and D, but I went for "see"
The pianist had the choice of several streets, but picked 'C'

The most of the hard-to-forget streets
'C' was the most memorable street

It's really and truly the dilly of all m'pet streets
'C' is the best street in the area

Tenor sax: Hey, hey, hey everybody now
The tenor saxophonist is getting the crowd excited

Brass: Come go walkin' with me now
The brass invites the listener to go for a walk

Walk up avenue see now
The brass wants to walk up 'C' Avenue

Chicks all lookin' so pretty
The women are attractive

They don't give me no pity
The women are not sympathetic

Avenue see is the grooviest in the city
'C' Avenue is the most exciting street in the city

Tenor sax: I never dug an avenue so enjoyable to me
The tenor saxophonist has never enjoyed a street as much as 'C' Avenue

"see" Avenue is groovy
'C' Avenue is cool

Yes it was groovy as it could be
'C' Avenue was very cool

Brass: Walk with me down Avenue see
The brass wants the listener to walk with them down 'C' Avenue

Tenor sax: Man I really hope to say
The tenor saxophonist is enthusiastic

Brass: Come on baby, while we ramble
The brass invites someone to walk with them

Walk beside me while we ramble
The brass wants someone to accompany them on this walk

You dig it too I feel you do
The brass thinks the listener likes the walk too

What a scenic hike
The walk is scenic

It's a walk that you're bound to like
The brass thinks the listener will enjoy the walk

Brass: why'got "be " on the one side
The brass is referring to the A, B, C, D streets

Reeds: "A"
The reed section calls out the first street

Brass: "D" on the other
The brass section calls out the last street

Reeds: "be "
The reed section calls out the second street

Brass: "see" in the middle
The brass section calls out the third street

Reeds: "see"
The reed section repeats the third street

Brass and Reeds: Baby!
The brass and reed sections are excited and enthusiastic

Trumpet: The reason that you're feelin' so down, babe
The trumpet player is addressing someone who is feeling down

Is 'cause you live in Stuyvesant Town, babe
The trumpet player thinks the person's home is the cause of their sadness

I dug you down in Hamilton Fish, babe
The trumpet player liked being with the person in a different neighborhood

And realized that you were my dish, babe
The trumpet player thought the person was attractive

Walkin' home and you can walk with me
The trumpet player invites the person to walk home with them

Walkin' hand in hand up Avenue see, Oh babe
The trumpet player wants to walk hand in hand up 'C' Avenue with the person

And while we're walkin' we can do some talkin'
The trumpet player suggests they talk on the walk

While the people dig us wonderin' what we're puttin' down
People are curious about them

While we, happy as we can be, glide on
They are happy and continue the walk

Takin' life in stride up to Murphy Park there beside the river
They are continuing their walk up to a park beside the river

Brass: Well our feet got rhythm
The brass is happy with the rhythm of their walk

Reeds: Pure pedal syncopation
The reeds think their walking is very rhythmic

Brass: 'N when we walk with 'em
The brass likes the way they walk

Reeds: Demandin' admiration
The reeds think they are impressive

Brass: Well our step is snappy
The brass is happy with their walking step

Reeds: Dig people step aside now
People are making way for them

Brass: Because we're so happy
The brass is happy

Reeds: We're takin' life in stride now
They are enjoying the walk

Brass: Avenue see your vibrations are followin' me. Oh yes
The brass is feeling the energy of 'C' Avenue

Reeds: Everybody busily lookin'
People are busy and active

Brass: Yes yes
The brass likes what they see

Reeds: Me and baby steadily cookin'
The reeds and someone are doing well

Brass: Yes yes
The brass continues to be pleased

Reeds: Start at one end talkin' and movin'
They start talking while walking

Brass: Yes yes
The brass is still enthusiastic

Reeds: To the other wiggin' and groovin'
They continue to walk and talk

Brass: So come
The brass invites the listener

Reeds: You should
The reeds agree

Brass: And view
The brass wants the listener to see

Reeds: I would
The reeds agree

Brass: This Ave-
The brass is referring to 'C' Avenue

Reeds: You could
The reeds suggest checking out the street

Brass: Venue
The brass is still referring to 'C' Avenue

Reeds: It's good
The reeds think it's a good idea

Brass: Walk on
The brass wants to continue their walk

Reeds: "see" Avenue, see it my way
The reeds want the listener to see things their way

Brass: Talk on
The brass wants to continue talking

Reeds: No better view on a highway
They think this is the best view on the street

Ensemble: Big town you don't know 'till you see it
The ensemble is expressing the idea that you can't fully understand something until you see it

Brass: Walk on
The brass wants to continue walking

Reeds: I never saw such a wonderful sight
The reeds are amazed by the view

Drum break
A section of percussion only

Ensemble: You're gonna love it
The ensemble is confident that the listener will enjoy the experience

Brass: I'm hip, you'll flip
The brass is cool and inviting

Reeds: When you dig it you'll stop and linger
The reeds think the listener will want to stay and enjoy the experience

Brass: You'll pop your top
The brass thinks the listener will get excited

Reeds: What a pleasure and what a swinger
The reeds think the experience is exciting and pleasurable

Ensemble: Go dig it cop that view it's bound to thrill you
The ensemble is encouraging the listener to check out the view

(Come on, come on, go)
The ensemble is urging the listener to come along

Go dig it cop that view it's bound to thrill you
The ensemble repeats their encouragement

(Come on, come on, now, go)
The ensemble continues urging the listener to come with them

Go dig it cop that view it's bound to thrill you
The ensemble is still encouraging the listener

Go dig it cop that view it's bound to thrill you
The ensemble is emphatic about the listener getting this experience