Tiger Rag
Stéphane Grappelli/Django Reinhardt Lyrics

The lyrics to Stéphane Grappelli/Django Reinhardt's song Tiger Rag are relatively straightforward - a search for a tiger, a call to hold him, and a plea for someone to play the Tiger Rag. The repeated refrain and exhortations to "choke him, poke him, kick him and soak him" create a sense of urgency and excitement that echoes the frenetic pace of the music. The phrase "low or highbrow, they all cry now" also suggests that the Tiger Rag has universal appeal, popular with both refined and ordinary people alike.

However, the lyrics may also carry deeper significance. The "tiger" could be a metaphor for something wild and uncontrollable, something that must be subdued or channeled in order to be properly appreciated. This interpretation ties in with the improvisational nature of jazz music, where musicians take a basic melody and make it their own through spontaneous embellishments and variations. The Tiger Rag, with its complex rhythms and fast pace, is a perfect example of this. By calling for the tiger to be "held" and "soaked," the lyrics could be seen as a call to seize the moment and fully embrace the wild, chaotic energy of jazz.