Ella Fitzgerald

This tune is not only a great swing song, it also has a special story.

Did you know, that A-Tisket, A-Tasket is based on a popular Anerican nursery rhyme, that appeared the first time around 1879*?

Original Rhyme

A-tisket a-tasket
A green and yellow basket
I wrote a letter to my love
And on the way I dropped it,
I dropped it, I dropped it,
And on the way I dropped it.
A little boy he picked it up and put it in his pocket.

Ella Fitzgerald co-wrote the swing version “A-Tisket, A-Tasket” with Chick Webb‘s arranger Van Alexander (then Al Friedman). When the record was published in 1938, it immediately became a hit and made it to the top of the charts.

This recording turned Ella Fitzgerald and Chick Webb & his Orchestra in nationwide stars!

A-Tisket, A-Tasket

Clip from the movie Ride ‘Em Cowboy (1942); Ella is performing the song on a bus ride

Lyrics by Ella Fitzgerald and Van Alexander (1938)

A-tisket, A-tasket
A brown and yellow basket
I send a letter to my mommy
On the way I dropped it

I dropped it, I dropped it
Yes on the way I dropped it
A little girlie picked it up
And put it in her pocket

She was truckin' on down the avenue
Not a single thing to do
She went peck peck pecking all around
When she spied it on the ground

She took it, She took it
My little yellow basket
And if she doesn't bring it back I think that I will die

A-tisket, A-tasket
I lost my yellow basket
And if that girlie don't return it
I don't know what I'll do

Oh dear I wonder where my basket can be
(So do we, so do we, so do we, so do we, so do we)
Oh gee I wish that little girl I could see
(So do we, so do we, so do we, so do we, so do we)

Oh why was I so careless with that basket of mine?
That itty bitty basket was a joy of mine!

A-tisket, A-tasket
I lost my yellow basket
Won't someone help me find my basket
And make me happy again? again

(Was it green?) No, no, no, no
(Was it red?) No, no, no, no
(Was it blue?) No, no, no, no

Just a little yellow basket
A little yellow basket

For Lindy Hop dancers

I especially like this part “(Was it green?) No, no, no, no” and so on, where Ella has this naive, laughing voice while singing “no, no, no, no”. It's almost like she would be a little girl singing that.

A happy song for Lindy Hop dancers!

*Source: [easyazon-link asin=”0789009145″ locale=”us”]The Big Band Reader: Songs Favored by Swing Era Orchestras and Other Popular Ensembles[/easyazon-link]

[easyazon-image align=”left” asin=”B004867QL8″ locale=”de” height=”160″ src=”https://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51xzW04v94L._SL160_.jpg” width=”160″]Title: [easyazon-link asin=”B004866MR2″ locale=”de”]A-Tisket, A-Tasket[/easyazon-link]
Artist: Ella Fitzgerald w/ Chick Webb & His Orchestra
Recorded: 1938
Album: [easyazon-link asin=”B000086ED3″ locale=”us”]A-Tisket A-Tasket[/easyazon-link]
Tempo: 164 bpm
Dance: Lindy Hop

Click the link to download the song at
iTunes CH/EU – iTunes US – [easyazon-link asin=”B004866MR2″ locale=”de”]A'zon.de[/easyazon-link] – [easyazon-link asin=”B004779B9I” locale=”us”]A'zon.com[/easyazon-link] – [easyazon-link asin=”B0047838ZU” locale=”uk”]A'zon.co.uk[/easyazon-link] – eMusic

Do you like this song? Share your thoughts in the comment section below!

Every Monday, I post a new “Song of the Week“.
You can find the songs also on my Spotify playlist or on 8tracks.

Related Songs:

Song of the Week #46: “Lindy Hopper's Delight” by Chick Webb & His Orchestra
Song of the Week #104: “C Jam Blues” by Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra
Song of the Week #103: “When I Grow Too Old To Dream” by Arnett Cobb
Song of the Week #102: “Rosetta” by Al Casey
Song of the Week #101: “Gift For The Club” by Buck Clayton