Hey, don't start no schtuff
I got some ginger snapping, finger tapping rhythm to do
I want my eyes a-twinkling, toes a-tingling, huh, so don't you
Don't start complaining and a blaming puttin' rocks in my shoe
And whatever you do, don't start no schtuff
I got the radio and video and doubt as I do
I got a mission and a vision 'bout the future, don't you
Don't be so critical, ridicule and mouth on a few
And whatever you do, don't start no schtuff
If you wanna be first, you got it
Kick my sticks to the curve, you got it
If you're looking at her, you oughta
Take a hike, you might as well forget about it
We could start a new school, we gotta
Teach some folks to be cool, we oughta
Read the old golden rule, because at
Harvard, Princeton, Yale, they forget about it
I got some ginger snapping, finger tapping livin' to do
I want their eyes a-twinkling, toes a-tingling, huh, so don't you
Don't start complaining and a blaming puttin' socks in my stew
Man whatever you do, don't start no schtuff
Get enough, getting' rough
Come on and kick your shovin' me some stuff
Get enough, getting' tough
Don't matter, Baby, your luck is up
What's up, give it up
Stop missin’ me, the sob stuff’s too much
Hold up, that's enough, let's get on with it
Let's stop this fussin’ and the dumb stuff
I want some ginger snapping, finger tapping rhythm to do
I want my eyes a-twinkling, toes a-tingling, too, so don't you
Don't start complainin’ and a blamin’ puttin' rocks in my shoe
And whatever you do, don't start no schtuff
GUITAR SOLO OVER
||: VERSE :||
||: CHORUS :||
VERSE
||: CHORUS :||
(scat starts - guitar soloing under scat)
VERSE VAMP
(Lyrics back to the top, with a couple of variations...and vamp it out)
I got some ginger snapping, finger tapping rhythm to do
I want my eyes a-twinkling, toes a-tingling, so don't you
Don't start complaining and a blaming puttin' rocks in the shoe
And whatever you do, don't start no schtuff
Baby, baby, baby, now don't start no schtuff in here at all
Don't want no trouble with you
VOCAL AD LIBS OVER VS. VAMP (8 Bars...16 bars...performer's choice)
DON’T START NO SCHTUFF!
************************
Footnote: I've seen these lyrics butchered so many different directions, I thought I'd post the lyrics I know I hear in this tune. It's one of my all-time favorites, and I've played the "Givin' It Up" CD album until I think I may be wearing it out.
I'm not 100% sure I'm correct in a couple of places, because Jarreau & Benson had some very unique styling, adding a bit of rhythmic sounds into their diction. They were AMAZING together, putting their very soul into their performances together.
If what you're hearing doesn't make sense in the context of the tune, you're probably hearing incorrectly. Compare these lyrics against their actual recording, and if you have suggestions, I'm open. Whether or not I change my opinion about what I'm hearing or not, I will still listen to your opinion. :)
R.I.P., Al Jarreau: March 12, 1940 - February 12, 2017.
You and your superb talent are missed!
George Benson, thank you for your brilliant compositions!
Lyrics Submitted by Brenda Bouschard