The Lip
Louis Prima and Keely Smith with Sam Butera and The Witnesses Lyrics


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Down on the Mississippi River in a knockdo dive
I met a trumpet playin' character and man alive
When he began to rip, he really played it from the hip
And when I asked about his name, they told me, that's The Lip
(Yip yip yip yip)
No one plays high notes like The Lip

He's got a tone that's reminiscent of a boy named Bix
He plays so high that only dogs can hear him, just for kicks
And when I asked him does he read
He says, I'll tell you, hon'
I read a little bit but not enough to hurt me none
(Yip yip yip yip)
No one plays high notes like The Lip

I said The Lip
(She must mean Ray Anthony, huh)
I said The Lip
(No, man, she means Harry James)
I said The Lip
(You mean Louis Prima)
I said The Lip
(Noo, Lip er ace)
(Yip yip yip yip)
No one plays high notes like The Lip

I never heard a trumpet player play a note so high
I had to coax a lot before The Lip would tell me why
Then he took out a little jar that's labelled high note grease
And he rubs a little every night on his mouthpiece
(Yip yip yip yip)
No one plays high notes like The Lip

Listen here gal, are you kiddin' about all that high note grease?
No, man, I swear, he had ten in a big valise
Wha', you mean he goes to the drugstore
And gets them from the medicine shelf?
No, some cat's told me he makes it himself
(Yip yip yip yip)
Tell us the secret of The Lip

Well, you take a bucketful of steam
And a dozen rooster eggs
And you mix 'em up gently with a bushel full of goldfish legs
And ya hang 'em on a sky hook in the midnight sun
Mmm and then you fry them until they're done




(Yip yip yip yip)
That's the secret of The Lip

Overall Meaning

Louis Prima’s song “The Lip” tells the story of a meeting with a trumpet player nicknamed “The Lip” whom the singer encountered at a seedy bar in Mississippi. The Lip is described as an incredibly talented player who plays extremely high notes reminiscent of Bix Beiderbecke. The singer is so taken with The Lip that they ask him about his playing and are even curious about his methods of achieving such high notes.


The song strings together a narrative of tales of this trumpeter's nickname being alternately confused with those of Harry James, Louis Prima or Ray Anthony. Finally, the singer asks The Lip for the secret of his talent and the response is humorous; The Lip explains that he rubs high note grease on his mouthpiece, and he even concocts it himself using steam, rooster eggs, goldfish legs and a sky hook.


“The Lip” is a song that humorously celebrates the legend of a talented, larger-than-life trumpeter with a keen wit about his abilities, and the absurdity of some of the stories that can circulate about talented figures in the music industry.


Line by Line Meaning

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




Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: RAYMOND KLAGES, VICK, SR. KNIGHT

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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