Gather roun' 'n hear my story
'Bout the time when Jelly Roll was in town
He heard a local pianist
Stompin' out music on an old upright piano that was downright ragged in a Scott Joplin way
Ol' Jelly knew the fella could play by the things he heard his right hand say
(There was no doubtin' that the man could swing)
When Jelly Roll demanded his name well, the man responded "Porter King"
Well, Jelly left the city, but he wrote a rompin' ditty about the Porter who was "King Of The Stomp"
Jelly wrote a ditty 'bout a fella who could romp
This is the tune - "King Porter Stomp"
When Porter's stridin' hands are flyin'
An' all his fingers are testifyin'
His two feet stompin' in ragged time
That's a feelin' that is so sublime - Y' dig it?
He's generatin' so much excitement
Y' keep forgettin' just what uptight meant
N' that's that fella named Porter King
His style's the essence o' Swing
When Jelly first heard Porter King
He declared he heard the very heart an' soul of swing
A certain ragged kind o' romp
In between a jump and a stomp
When Jelly heard, well, he really knew
Because he played too
That Porter was a King, really n' truly a stone king
Another thing, somethin' never heard of
"Somethin' else" is the sort o' phrase
A fella'd prob'ly have t'use
If'e was gonna describe
The way Porter plays
There never was - an never's gonna be
Another strider fine as he
I know no other ear will ever hear another like it here.
Hey!!!
Stop that!!!
That stomp knocked me outta my hat!
Who's that abusin' piano?
Tell me his name, because he's boun' f' fame
'N how'd he figure such rhythm?
Did he bring it here with 'im?
What kinda cat is King Porter?
Plinkin' an' plunkin' that romp he calls a stomp.
Stomp, stomp, stomp, stomp
Just keep on ballin' till we start fallin' right through the floor
It's so natch'ral
You want more? Come - git it!
Porter - he's the King!
He knows how to stomp an' swing,
That's King Porter
Master of how to stomp
Who's the absolute Master of Stomp? King Porter!
The rollicking Rajah of Romp? King Porter!
The plinkin'est plunker this side o' the border?
Who? Except King Porter
Who is the King of the Keys?
King Porter!
An' constantly able to please?
King Porter!
An' who tickles ivories like nobody livin'?
That's King Porter! He's the man!
Unloosen yo' shoes
(Unloosen yo' shoes)
Start payin' them dues
(Start payin' them dues)
Git shed o' them blues
Git shed o' them - dang them blues!
You don't shed 'em, you lose
Spend a quarter!
(Spend a quarter)
Give the order!
(Give the order)
Mr. Porter -
Mister Barrellhouse man git t' stompin'
Make 'em git hot - git 'em rompin
The got t' dig King Porter Stomp!