The Lip
(as it was performed by Louis Prima and Keely Smith)
Songwriters: Vic Knight & T.E. Klages.

Down on the Mississippi River in a knockdo* dive
I met a [bad word] playin' character and Man alive!
When he began to rip, he really played it from the hip
And when I asked about his name, they told me, "That's 'The Lip'."

Yip yip yip yip

No one plays high notes like The Lip.

He's got a tone that's reminiscent of a boy named Bix
He plays so high that only dogs can hear him, just for kicks.
And when I asked him does he read
He says, "I'll tell you, hon, I read a little bit but not enough to hurt me none."

Yip yip yip yip.

No one plays high notes like The Lip.

I said The Lip.
-She must mean Ray Anthony, huh?
I said The Lip.
-No, man, she means Harry James.
I said The Lip.
-You mean Louis Prima, huh!
I said The Lip.
-Noo, LIP-er-ace.

Yip yip yip yip

No one plays high notes like The Lip.

I never heard a [bad word] player play a note so high
And I had to coax a lot before The Lip would tell me why
Then he took out a little jar that's labeled 'High-note Grease'
And [bad word] a little every night on his mouthpiece

Yip yip yip yip

No one plays high notes like The Lip.

-Listen here gal, are you kiddin' about all that 'high-note grease'?
No, man, I swear, he had ten in his valise.
-Wha', you mean he goes to the [bad word] and gets them from the medecine shelf?
No, some cat's told me he makes it himself.

Yip yip yip yip

Tell us the secret of The Lip.

-Well... you take a buketful of steam
And a dozen rooster eggs
And you mix 'em up gently with a bushel full of goldfish legs
And ya hang 'em on a sky hook in the midnight sun
Mmm and then you fry them until they're done.

Yip yip yip yip

That's the secret of The Lip