choo choo ch'boogie

Louis Jordan & His Tympany Five had a huge crossover hit with this jump blues locomotive that prefigured rock and roll. Jordan was known as "The King of the Jukebox" and 'Choo Choo Ch'Boogie' blended country and blues music, making him popular with black and white audiences. Denver Darling and Vaughn Horton co-wrote the song with Milt Gabler, vice-president of Decca Recordsand and Louis Jordan's record producer. The song spoke to the excitement of veterans returning from World War II and the ensuing disappointment over the lack of available work. 'Choo Choo Ch'Boogie' peaked at number seven on the pop chart and holding the number one spot on the R&B chart for a record eighteen weeks.

Headin' for the station with a pack on my back,

I'm tired of transportation in the back of hack,

I love to hear the rhythm of the clickity clack,

And hear the lonesome whistle, see the smoke from the stack,

And pal around with democratic fellows named Mac;

So, take me right back to the track, Jack!

Choo choo, choo choo, ch'boogie!

Woo woo, ooh ooh, ch'boogie!

Choo choo, choo choo, ch'boogie!

Take me right back to the track, Jack!

You reach your destination, but alas and alack!

You need some compensation to get back in the black,

You take your morning paper from the top of the stack,

And read the situation from the front to the back,

The only job that's open needs a man with a knack,

So put it right back in the rack, Jack!

Choo choo, choo choo, ch'boogie!

Woo woo, ooh ooh, ch'boogie!

Choo choo, choo choo, ch'boogie!

Take me right back to the track, Jack!

Gonna settle down by the railroad track,

Live the life of Riley in a beaten-down shack,

So when I hear a whistle I can peak through the crack,

And watch the train a rollin' when they're ballin' the jack,

I just love the rhythm of the clickity clack,

So, take me right back to the track, Jack!

Choo choo, choo choo, ch'boogie!

Woo woo, ooh ooh, ch'boogie!

Choo choo, choo choo, ch'boogie!

Take me right back to the track, Jack!

Take me right back to the track, Jack!