‘ RAG-TIME’

At dawn, beneath my casement,

Scrubbing the area stairs,

The boot-boy in the basement

Is whistling rag-time airs.

At breakfast, while I'm eating,

A German band outside

With unction keeps repeating

The latest‘ Wedding Glide.’

Where'er I go, whate'er I do,

I can n't escape from‘ Hitchykoo’!

Pursued, as by a pixy,

By each infectious air,

I‘ Want to be in Dixie’

When ev'rybody' s there!

Though‘ Honolulu-looing’

I've done my best to shun,

What‘ Ev'rybody' s Doing’

I cannot leave undone!

The subtle spell I can n't withstand

Of‘ Alexander's Rag-Time Band’!

Like ancient hosts of Midian,

I kneel, enslaved and tame,

Before a modern Gideon,

And Melville is his name!

He grips me without pity,

He binds me with a thong

Of contrapuntal ditty,

Of syncopated song!

And in his sweet, seductive strains

I hear the rattle of my chains!

So, when you next behold me

Perform a Turkey-trot,

In fashion which ( they've told me )

Makes chaperones feel hot;

Or with a strict adherence

To rules of Bunny-hug,

Combine the ape's appearance

With manners of the Thug,

I beg you wo n't find fault with me,

But lay the blame on Melville G.!