The Lip
Louis Prima & Keely Smith With Sam Butera And The Witnesses Lyrics

Down on the Mississippi River in a knockdo dive
I was at a dive bar near the Mississippi River

I met a trumpet playin' character and man alive
I met a trumpet player with quite a persona

When he began to rip, he really played it from the hip
When he started playing, he did it in a wild, original way

And when I asked about his name, they told me, that's The Lip
When I asked for his name, they told me he's known as The Lip

(Yip yip yip yip)
Backup singing

No one plays high notes like The Lip
Nobody can play high notes quite like The Lip can

He's got a tone that's reminiscent of a boy named Bix
His playing reminds me of another trumpet player named Bix

He plays so high that only dogs can hear him, just for kicks
He plays so high that only dogs can hear him--just for fun

And when I asked him does he read
I asked him if he could read music

He says, I'll tell you, hon'
He responds with a term of endearment

I read a little bit but not enough to hurt me none
He does read music, but not enough to bother him

I said The Lip
I mentioned The Lip's name

(She must mean Ray Anthony, huh)
Someone thought I was referring to Ray Anthony

(No, man, she means Harry James)
Someone else thought I was referring to Harry James

(You mean Louis Prima)
Another person guessed I meant Louis Prima

(Noo, Lip er ace)
Finally, someone realizes I was talking about The Lip himself

I never heard a trumpet player play a note so high
I'd never heard someone play trumpet so high before

I had to coax a lot before The Lip would tell me why
I had to persuade The Lip to tell me his secret

Then he took out a little jar that's labelled high note grease
He showed me his jar of high note grease

And he rubs a little every night on his mouthpiece
He applies a small amount to his mouthpiece each night

(Yip yip yip yip)
Backup singing

Listen here gal, are you kiddin' about all that high note grease?
Someone doubts that high note grease can really help play high notes

No, man, I swear, he had ten in a big valise
I swear he had ten jars of high note grease in a big suitcase

Wha', you mean he goes to the drugstore
Someone asks if he buys it from a drugstore

And gets them from the medicine shelf?
They ask if he gets them from the medicine aisle

No, some cat's told me he makes it himself
I heard from someone that he makes it himself

(Yip yip yip yip)
Backup singing

Tell us the secret of The Lip
Someone asks for The Lip's secret

Well, you take a bucketful of steam
His secret is humorous, not real

And a dozen rooster eggs
He lists off ingredients that are impossible to mix together

And you mix 'em up gently with a bushel full of goldfish legs
He continues to list off ridiculous ingredients

And ya hang 'em on a sky hook in the midnight sun
He describes another impossible step

Mmm and then you fry them until they're done
He concludes his recipe with something that is impractical to do

(Yip yip yip yip)
Backup singing