Tiger Rag
Kid Thomas George Lewis Lyrics

The lyrics of Kid Thomas George Lewis's song Tiger Rag call upon the tiger, a wild and untamed creature, to be held and subdued. The repeated exclamation "Where's that tiger!" echoes the quest to capture and control the animal. The commands to "choke him, poke him, kick him, and soak him" intensify the desire to dominate the tiger, suggesting a violent and aggressive approach. The chorus then shifts to a more pleading tone, as the audience, whether lowbrow or highbrow, implores the musicians to play the Tiger Rag, a popular jazz tune of the time.

Beyond its literal interpretation as a call for the tiger's capture and the request for a specific song to be played, the lyrics can be seen as a metaphor for the human desire to control and cage the wild and unpredictable aspects of life. The tiger, a symbol of power and strength, represents the uncontrollable forces that can disrupt society's order and stability. The urge to subdue the tiger and make it perform for our entertainment reflects the human desire to conquer and commodify even the most primal of experiences.

Overall, the lyrics to Kid Thomas George Lewis's Tiger Rag convey a range of emotions, from the thrill of the hunt to the need for control, and ultimately the yearning for the pleasure of entertainment. The simple yet catchy repetition of the chorus combined with the powerful symbolism of the tiger make for a memorable and thought-provoking song.