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Ella Fitzgerald

DJ Chrisbe’s Song of the Week #105: A-Tisket A-Tasket

05.03.2012 by Chris

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

Filed Under: Music, Song of the Week Tagged With: Chick Webb, DJ Chrisbe, Ella Fitzgerald, Lindy Hop, Swing

The Savoy King – Feature Documentary Is Finished!

25.08.2011 by Chris

As announced today on the Facebook Page, “THE SAVOY KING: Chick Webb and the Music That Changed America” is finally finished!

THE SAVOY KING is a feature documentary about the Swing-era drummer-bandleader Chick Webb, Ella Fitzgerald, and Harlem's Savoy Ballroom.

I'm really looking forward to seeing this documentary!

CLIP: “Ella Fitzgerald Vignette”

This is a clip from the new feature film.
Interviews with Norma Miller, Frankie Manning and Van Alexander, among others!

  • Produced by Jeff Kaufman of Floating World Pictures
  • Edited by Jamal El-Amin
  • Graphics Wizard: Patrick Connelly
  • Post-production Supervisor: Alita Renée Holly

Link: Website The Savoy King

Related Posts:

  • The Savoy King – Feature Documentary in Post-Production
  • Swing! The Documentary

Filed Under: Swing News Tagged With: Chick Webb, Clips, Documentary, Ella Fitzgerald, Frankie Manning, Norma Miller, Savoy Ballroom, Video

DJ Chrisbe’s Song of the Week #46: Lindy Hopper’s Delight

17.01.2011 by Chris

What shall I say, this is a song every Swing dancer should know.

I think it's not wrong to say that the song is overused for performances and probably also overplayed on the dance floor. However, it's a great tune!

When this song was recorded, Chick Webb has already died – a few months before, at the age of only 34 – and Ella Fitzgerald led the orchestra.

Chick Webb Strictly Jive

Title: Lindyhopper's Delight
Artist: Chick Webb Orchestra
Recorded: October 12, 1939
Tempo: 196 bpm
Dance: Lindy Hop, Balboa

Click the link to download the song from: Amazon

You can find the songs of the series also on my Spotify playlist. Official hashtag of the series: #djcsotw

Do you like the “Song of the Week” series? Share your thoughts below.

Now Check Out:

  • Song of the Week #45: “Number 26 In The Book” by Original Teddies
  • Song of the Week #44: “Lover Come Back To Me” by Bryan Ferry
  • Song of the Week #43: “Blues My Naughty Sweetie Gives To Me” by Sidney Bechet

Filed Under: Music, Song of the Week Tagged With: Balboa, Chick Webb, DJ Chrisbe, Ella Fitzgerald, Jazz, Lindy Hop, Swing

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Welcome, I'm Christian Bossert. Since 1999, I‘ve been passionate about Swing dances as well as their culture and history. I‘m a Swing dance instructor and international Swing DJ Chrisbe, based in Zurich Switzerland. Read More…

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