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, 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.

Now Check Out:

• 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