This song was written by the second wife of Louis Armstrong, and is famous in modern day for being sampled by Parov Stelar in the popular Electro-Swing song “Booty Swing”.
A fun bit of trivia, the song Booty Swing caused a GM advert to be pulled, because the original lyrics from 1938 (also sampled...
[Instrumental Intro]
Now, Arab sheiks on the burning sands
Commanded their harems and clapped their hands
Said, "Come on, girls, ready to play?
Let's have a little more of that swingin' today."
[Instrumental]
Now, geisha girls in old Japan
Wink behind their peacock fans
Since they learned to say, "Yeah, man
Let's swing it like Amelican's swing swing band!"
[Instrumental]
Now, in the land of Fu Manchu
The girls all now do the Suzie-Q
Clap their hands in the center of the floor
Sayin', "Ching-ching chop-suey swing some mo'!"
[Instrumental]
Now, Gypsy caravans have changed their mode
They truck down the Romany roads
With their hi-de-hoes, and their hey-hey-diddle
Doin' the swing on the Gypsy fiddle
[Instrumental]
Them eastern wise-men know the story
Of swing with Oriental glory
They stroke their beards and grin
Sayin', "Swing, little tune, till the dawn comes in!"
Oriental Swing was written by Lil Hardin Armstrong.
Lil Hardin Armstrong released Oriental Swing on Wed Feb 02 1938.