overture
Renee Zellweger / Reilly John C. / Colm Feore Lyrics


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[VELMA]
Come on babe
Why don´t we paint the town?
And all that Jazz

I´m gonna rouge my knees
And roll my stockings down
And all that jazz

Start the car
I know a whoopee spot
Where the gin is cold
But the piano´s hot

It´s just a noisy hall
Where there´s a nightly brawl
And all
That
Jazz

Slick your hair
And wear your buckle shoes
And all that Jazz

I hear that Father Dip
Is gonna blow the blues
And all that Jazz

Hold on, hon
We´re gonna bunny hug
I bought some aspirin
Down at United Drug
I case you shake apart
And want a brand new start
To do that-

[VELMA AND COMPANY]
Jazz

[COMPANY]
Skidoo!

[VELMA]
And all that Jazz

[COMPANY]
Hotcha!
Whoopee!

[VELMA]
And all that Jazz

[COMPANY]
Ha! Ha! Ha!

It´s just a noisy hall
Where there´s a nightly brawl

[ALL]
And all that jazz

[CASELY (spoken)]
Listen, your husband ain´t home, is he?

[VELMA (Spoken)]
No, her husband is not at home.

Find a flask
We´re playing fast and loose

[ALL]
And all that jazz

[VELMA]
Right up here
Is where I store the juice

[ALL]
And all that jazz

[VELMA]
Come on, babe
We´re gonna brush the sky
I bet you luck Lindy
Never flew so high
´Cause in the stratosphere
How could he lend an ear
to all that Jazz?

[COMPANY]
Oh, you´re gonna see your sheba shimmy shake

[VELMA]
And all that jazz

[COMPANY]
Oh, she´s gonna shimmy ´till her garters break

[VELMA]
And all that jazz

[COMPANY]
Show her where to park her girdle
Oh, her mother´s blood´d curdle
If she´d hear her baby´s queer
For all that jazz

[VELMA]
And All that jazz
Come on, babe
Why Don´t we paint
The town?
And all that jazz

[COMPANY]
Oh, you´re gonna see
Your
Sheba
Shimmy shake
And all that jazz

[VELMA]
I´m gonna
Rouge my knees
And roll my
Stockings down
And all that jazz

[COMPANY]
Oh
She´s gonna shimmy
´Till her garters
Break
And all that jazz

[VELMA]
Start the car
I know a whoopee spot
Where the gin is cold
But the piano´s hot
It´s just a noisy hall
Where there´s a nightly brawl
And all that jazz

[COMPANY]
Show her where to
Park her girdle
Oh, her mother´s blood´d
Curdle
If she´d hear
Her baby´s queer
For all that jazz

[ROXIE (Spoken)]
So that´s it, huh Fred?

[CASELY (Spoken)]
yeah, I´m afraid so, Roxie.

[ROXIE (Spoken)]
Oh, Fred...

[GIRLS (Spoken)]
Oh, Fred...

[CASELY (Spoken)]
Yeah?

[ROXIE (Spoken)]
Nobody walks out on me.

[CASELY (Spoken)]
Sweetheart-

[ROXIE (Spoken)]
Oh, don´t "sweetheart" me,
you son-of-a-bitch!

[COMPANY]
Hotcha!
Whoopee!
Jazz!

[ROXIE (Spoken)]
Oh, I gotta pee!

[VELMA]
No, I´m no one´s wife
But, Oh, I love my life
And all that Jazz!

[COMPANY]
That Jazz!

Renée Zellweger (Roxy)




Catherine Zeta-Jones (Velma)
Taye Diggs (Casely)

Overall Meaning

The song "Overture/All That Jazz" from the musical "Chicago" is a lively and energetic introduction to the show's world of glitz, glamour, and violence. The song is sung by Velma Kelly (played in the film by Catherine Zeta-Jones) and introduces the audience to her character and her world. She invites the listener to join her in painting the town red, starting with getting dressed up in the iconic flapper style of the era, complete with rouged knees and rolled down stockings. She then takes them to a wild late-night club where the gin is cold but the piano is hot, and anything can happen.


Velma's lyrics are a mixture of seduction and danger, as she urges the listener to embrace the wild and reckless lifestyle of the Jazz Age. She speaks of a nightly brawl and a whoopee spot, and name-drops famous dancers and musicians of the era, such as Father Dip and Lindy. The song's chorus is a joyful celebration of the titular phrase "All That Jazz," which embodies the spirit of the era with its fast-paced, improvisational style and its emphasis on pleasure and spectacle.


Line by Line Meaning

Come on babe
Encouragement to the person addressed


Why don´t we paint the town?
Suggesting going out and having a good time


And all that Jazz
Referring to the culture of the time


I´m gonna rouge my knees
Applying make-up to her knees


And roll my stockings down
Pulling down her stockings


Start the car
Initiating the vehicle


I know a whoopee spot
Knowledge of a fun place


Where the gin is cold
Where the gin is cold


But the piano´s hot
But the piano is popular


It´s just a noisy hall
It is a noisy establishment


Where there´s a nightly brawl
Where there is a nightly fight


And all That Jazz
Referring to the culture of the time


Slick your hair
Gel your hair down


And wear your buckle shoes
Put on your shoes with a buckle


I hear that Father Dip
I have heard Father Dip


Is gonna blow the blues
Father Dip is playing blues


Hold on, hon
Wait, my dear


We´re gonna bunny hug
We are going to dance


I bought some aspirin
I have bought some aspirin


Down at United Drug
At the United Drug Store


I case you shake apart
In case you break down mentally


And want a brand new start
And want to start anew


To do that-
To achieve that


Jazz
Referring to the culture of the time


Skidoo!
Leaving quickly


Hotcha!
Exclamation of approval


Whoopee!
Exclamation of excitement


Ha! Ha! Ha!
Laughter


Sheba shimmy shake
Sheba's shimmy dance


Show her where to park her girdle
Help her to take off her girdle


Oh, her mother´s blood´d curdle
Her mother would be outraged


If she´d hear her baby´s queer
If she heard her daughter's situation


It´s just a noisy hall
It is a noisy establishment


Where there´s a nightly brawl
Where there is a nightly fight


Listen, your husband ain´t home, is he?
Asking if her husband is at home


No, her husband is not at home.
Answering the previous question


Find a flask
Locating a container for alcohol


We´re playing fast and loose
We are taking risks


Right up here
Up ahead


Is where I store the juice
Where I have stored alcohol


Come on, babe
Come on, dear


We´re gonna brush the sky
We are going to reach high levels


I bet you luck Lindy
I bet fortune, Lindy


Never flew so high
Never achieved such heights


How could he lend an ear
How could he listen


Oh you´re gonna see your Sheba shimmy shake
You will see her do a shimmy dance


Oh she´s gonna shimmy ´till her garters break
She will dance enthusiastically


Oh, her mother´s blood´d curdle
Her mother would be outraged


That´s it, huh Fred?
That's all, right Fred?


Yeah, I´m afraid so, Roxie.
Yes, unfortunately that is the case, Roxie.


Oh, Fred...
Oh, Fred...


Nobody walks out on me.
No one leaves me behind.


Sweetheart-
Term of endearment


Oh, don´t 'sweetheart' me, you son-of-a-bitch!
Do not act like everything is okay!


I gotta pee!
I need to urinate!


No, I´m no one´s wife
I am not married


But, Oh, I love my life
But, Oh, I love my life


That Jazz!
Referring to the culture of the time




Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JOHN KANDER

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

Renan De Oliveira

ITS AMAZING !

Rachel

I am looking for the full orchrestal music for Chicago, the musical. Any idea of where I might be able to purchase or find it? Thanks!

Alan Vaytsman

Roxie’s Vocals

Renan De Oliveira

how do you did that ?

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