Slim and Slam

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 (link is unfortunately not available anymore), 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.

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.

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• Song of the Week #35: “Smiles” by the Flavio Ambrosetti Sextett