Ballin' the Jack
Encyclopedia
"Ballin' the Jack" is a popular song written by Jim Burris with music by Chris Smith
. It introduced a popular dance of the same name with "Folks in Georgia's 'bout to go insane." The song and dance were performed in For Me and My Gal
, the 1942 movie starring Judy Garland
and Gene Kelly
.
Chris Smith (composer)
Chris Smith was an American composer and performer.Smith was born in Charleston, South Carolina; he started traveling with Medicine Shows when young and went into Vaudeville where he performed in an acts with Elmer Bowman and Jimmy Durante...
. It introduced a popular dance of the same name with "Folks in Georgia's 'bout to go insane." The song and dance were performed in For Me and My Gal
For Me and My Gal (film)
For Me and My Gal is a 1942 American musical film directed by Busby Berkeley and starring Judy Garland, Gene Kelly – in his screen debut – and George Murphy, and featuring Martha Eggerth and Ben Blue. The film was written by Richard Sherman, Fred F...
, the 1942 movie starring Judy Garland
Judy Garland
Judy Garland was an American actress and singer. Through a career that spanned 45 of her 47 years and for her renowned contralto voice, she attained international stardom as an actress in musical and dramatic roles, as a recording artist and on the concert stage...
and Gene Kelly
Gene Kelly
Eugene Curran "Gene" Kelly was an American dancer, actor, singer, film director and producer, and choreographer...
.
Lyrics and dance
The lyrics describe the dance:- First you put your two knees close up tight,
- Then you sway 'em to the left, then you sway 'em to the right,
- Step around the floor kind of nice and light,
- Then you twis' around and twis' around with all your might,
- Stretch your lovin' arms straight out in space
- Then do the Eagle Rock with style and grace
- Swing your foot way 'round then bring it back,
- Now that's what I call "Ballin' the Jack."
External links
- "Ballin' the Jack", National Promenade Band (Edison Blue Amberol 2480, 1914)—Cylinder Preservation and Digitization Project.
- "Ballin' the Jack" (Sheet music)—The E. Azalia Hackley Collection, Detroit Public Library.
