Edgewise

Jump for Joy

David Kolodney

I believe this song, “Jump for Joy,” is extremely obscure, and that’s amazing. I only happened to hear it, barely listening to an old a Sarah Vaughn record. I stopped short, “Did she just say that?”

It’s a blithe and satirical “protest song” Duke Ellington wrote in 1941 for an all-black musical review of the same name.

He said it “would take Uncle Tom out of the theater, and say things that would make the audience think.”

Jump for Joy

Fare thee well land of cotton.

Cotton lisle is out of style,

Honey chile

Jump for Joy

—

Don’t you grieve little Eve

All the hounds I do believe

Have been killed

Ain’t ‘cha thrilled?

Jump for Joy

—

Have you seen pastures groovy?

“Green Pastures” was just a Technicolor movie

When you stomp up to heaven and you meet old Saint Pete

Tell that boy

Jump for joy

Step right in

Give Pete some skin and

Jump for Joy

(BTW, I don’t believe “Sir Duke” was literally anti-dog.)