Song Description

Several slices of life illustrating the advantages of knowing the art and science of swingin' (not to be confused with "swinging").

Lyrics

1
So you're standin? there at home plate
And the count is three and two
The crowd is turnin? nasty
And you're not sure what to do

Now the pitcher starts his windup
Seems he's aimin' at your head
The catcher's talkin' 'bout your mama
And you're wishin' you were dead

So you think you'll take a time-out
But that ump looks awfully mean
Now a wicked fastball's comin'
And it?s lookin? like a bean

So you start swingin' (for the stands)
It's a case of do or die
At least you go down swingin'
Baby, it's the only way to fly

2

So you? re out there in a nightclub
And some cat who?s had a few
Decides to get offended
?Cause his date?s got eyes for you

Now this guy?s built like Mike Tyson
But he?s nowhere near as sweet
So you?re checkin? out the exits
Tryin? to gracefully retreat

But just when things look bleakest
A thought occurs to you:
?Hey, I?m a jazz musician?
So I know just what to do.

I started swingin? (musically , that is)...
(cont. chorus)

3

I was out one night with my baby
And I?m tryin? to be ?hep?
So I took her to the disco
And we tried the latest step

I was lookin? cool (or so it seemed)
But then Fate intervened
My left foot tripped my right foot
And we started to careen

We were headed for a pileup
Take the whole floor with us too
But I looked at my baby
And she knew just what to do

We started swingin?...
(cont. chorus)



I?d like to take this opportunity to expostulate... elucidate...and pontificate on the joys (and the responsibilities) of swingin?.
Now Swingin' is a verb, not some static stationery noun. Now it could be an adjective, as in when someone is talking about me, they would say " Now there's one swingin' dude! "

Swingin ' is an attitude, a way of being, a lifestyle (not to be confused with Swinging, which has to do with someone else's wife). That's sick! (and dangerous)

Swingin is healthy... and nutritious. It's aerobic. It's a scientific fact that groovin' to the tity boom groove is better for all the internal bodily functions than tit tit tit tit tit tit tit tit. You don't need that.

You're gonna be regular!

When you're swingin' you're one with the cosmic groove. You're movin ' through life, trippin'... over an ocean of endless triplets. You're not being beaten over the head with some Neanderthal, Industrial Metal or Grunge! Your following in the very hip footsteps of the ultra-sophisticated Duke Ellington. You're following the Revolutionary of the alto sax, Charlie Parker. Bird lives! You're cool like Miles. Or you can get wild like Cab (if you need to). When your swingin' you've got the spiritual energy of the universe flowing up through your body and propelling you to heights of musical ecstasy unknown to mere mortals not initiated into the mysteries of Swing. You are partaking of the elixir, the black Ambrosia, bourne across the waters from Africa that gave birth to jazz and blues and hip-hop and anything that's truly cool in America.

You're riffin ' on life, improvising in the moment, jivin ', dippin' and divin', your easin' on down the road, you're stompin' at the Savoy and you're taking the "A" train on up to Sugar Hill in Harlem.

You're Groovin' High with Donna Lee.
You're eatin' Scrapple from the Apple.
You're Bouncin' With Bud and Lester is leapin? in.
You're Rockin' In Rhythm, Jumpin? With Symphony Sid
You're out catin? with your Satin Doll.
Who says I Don't Get Around Much Anymore, the hell I don't!