Alexander's Ragtime Band - Lyrics

Lyrics

The first lines establish the African-American context:

Oh ma honey . . . ain't you goin' to the leaderman, the ragged meter man and:

If you care to hear the Swanee River played in ragtime

The new style included new ways of playing traditional instruments as well:

There's a fiddle with notes that screeches

Like a chicken

And the clarinet is a colored pet