This week’s song is Vol Vist Du Gaily Star by Slim Gaillard & Slam Stewart. A groovy tune with strange lyrics! What kind of language is it? Is it Yiddish or Spanish?
According to the article “Who’s Yehoodi? – Scat, Jive, and Yiddish, 1938-1953” by Jonathan Z.S. Pollack, much of the song is in fake Spanish (“maña, maña, lambelo”).
At the end of the song, Slim Gaillard and Slam Stewart have a brief exchange as the song is fading out:
Slim: Hey! Boy!
Slam: What’s the matter, man?
Slim: What’s that “Vol Vist du Gaily Star” mean?
Slam: Man, I don’t know. What does it mean, man?
Slim: Don’t mean a thing, don’t mean a thing.
Slam: Well, all right, man.
Slim: It’s a little jive talk, in the Floogie language, that’s all.
Title: Vol Vist Du Gaily Star
Artist: Slim & Slam
Recorded: 1938
Album: Slim and Slam 1938-1939
Tempo: 180 bpm
Dance: Lindy Hop
Click the link to prelisten and download the song (mp3/mp4a) at
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Do you like this series? What do you think about this tune? Please share your thoughts!
Every Monday, I post a new “Song of the Week“.
You can find the songs also on my Spotify playlist or on 8tracks.
Related posts:
“Song of the Week” Series featured on Hey Mr. Jesse Podcast!
Song of the Week #37: “Singin’ The Blues” by Bix Beiderbecke and Frankie Trumbauer Orchestra
Song of the Week #36: “You Shall Reap What You Sow” by Lil Hardin Armstrong
Song of the Week #35: “Smiles” by the Flavio Ambrosetti Sextett
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