Back In The Day

You had to know what you were doing up on the band Nobody lining up to come give you a hand No way could you fake it At 18th and Vine And we could really put the sauce on it We'd do it all the time Yeah We was hot as smoking' pistols Chopping everybody down Swinging like dogs, man Kings of the town There'd be a cutting contest You had to do your research I'd pull out a lick or two From Saturday night church Yeah, you'd maybe get to try A couple things you learned But you had to do your homework 'Cause a gig was earned Yeah When swing turned into bebop It was all going on Blowing all night on past the dawn I might play all day I might play all night Whatever made you stronger, baby That was alright Yeah, you'd maybe get to try A couple things you'd learned But you had to know your business 'Cause everybody burned Well, a beer was a nickel A whiskey was a dime They'd come to Kansas City See the girls on Vine Might get a hot shot Wanna bring along his horn We liked to clean 'em up And head 'em back where they belong So long But it's just the old malarkey that'll wear you down Some people are the pits, man There's always some around Some will take advantage If they can It's the old baloney sandwich You dig me, man? I'm talking about a time When every man could play But that's the way it was Back in the day Yeah Yeah