It all began there in New Orleans
Mix and match cultures of the world
African and French, South American
Building a sound known as jazz
And they were singing, swinging
Up from New Orleans
Jammin', playin' with the blues
And they were dealin', reelin'
Up from New Orleans
Blowing sounds that changed all the rules
The sound is still there in New Orleans
Bourbon Street a part of history
Hear the spirits swing with a dixie tune
Playin' the sound known as jazz
Hear the big brass bands marchin' down the street
You couldn't help but move your feet
Honky-tonk the storyville sound
The piano man playin' piano rags all around
Pops, King Oliver made the trumpet speak
Jelly Roll Morton kept the beat
Baby Dodds and Sidney Bechet found another way
Playing the sound we now know as jazz
And it moved up the river
First to St. Louis and further north Chicago, too
On to the east, New York and Tin Pan Alley
Stride piano did swing
Then the second line bands came on the scene
In a whole new way
Let's just say they had the beat of a brand new era
R&B was on the way
It all began there in New Orleans
Mix and match cultures of the world
African and French, South American
Building a sound known as jazz