Ragtime
Title: The Maple Leaf Rag
Composer: Scott Joplin
Augie Otto was a very famous, important person in Sandwich, Illinois. He not only ran a large farm, but he spent years as a member of the school board, and he also built steam engines, that helped him on his farm, and he made a train for the Sandwich fair. He also loved music and had a pipe organ installed in his home. At a concert in his home he invited me to play the Maple Leaf Rag. It was written for piano by Scott Joplin. The dream of Scott Joplin was to carve out of sound a truly American and truly classic music, respectful of but not subservient to European music, a racially balanced music truthfully reporting American life, its tempo, and its temper. This arrangement says "Tempo di Marcia", which means to play it as if it were marching music. I've been playing it faster, trying to jazz it up, and just realized that it doesn't want me to do this. Hopefully you'll enjoy it.
Lyrics:
I came from ole Virginy from the county Acomac
I have no wealth to speak of 'cept de clothes upon my back
I can do the country hoe-down I can buck and wing to show down
And while I'm in the notion, just step back and watch my motion
Oh go 'way man, I can hypnotize dis nation
I can shake the earth's foundation wit' the Maple Leaf Rag
Oh go 'way man, just hold you breath a minute
For there's not a stunt that's in it with the Maple Leaf Rag
I dropped into the swellest ball, the great exclusive it
But my face was dead agin me and my trousers didn't fit
But when Maple Leaf was started, my timidity departed
I lost my trepidation, you could taste the admiration
Oh go 'way man, I can hypnotize this nation
I can shake the earth's foundation wit' the Maple Leaf Rag
Oh go 'way man, just hold you breath a minute
For there's not a stunt that's in it with the Maple Leaf Rag
The men were struck wit' jealousy, the razors 'gan to flash
But de ladies gathered 'round me for I'd surely made a mash
The finest belle, she sent a boy to call a coach and four
We rode around a season 'till we both were lost to reason
Oh go 'way man, I can hypnotize this nation
I can shake the earth's foundation wit' the Maple Leaf Rag
Oh go 'way man, just hold you breath a minute
For there's not a stunt that's in it with the Maple Leaf Rag