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| 18Karat | When something is
perfect.
Check out that hipster's moves, they're 18Karat! |
| Ain't | Contraction that means
"does not".
it don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing |
| Baby | Reference to a women,
usually the speaker's girlfriend.
hey baby what's shakin'? or when you hit the dance floor you got to be jumpin' jack (jump on in -jump with your baby) |
| Bad | Good.
"Hey, Now those are some bad cloths!" |
| BadAss | Damn Good!
"Damn Cat! I nearly flipped my lid when I saw those badass threads!" |
| Bag | A person's particular
interest.
sorry Jill, the jitta ain't my bag. |
| Barn Burner | A stylish, classy
woman.
I dig Suzy-Q, she's a real barn burner. |
| Beat | Exhausted or tired.
damn baby, you steppin' circles 'round me, I'm beat. |
| Blow | To Blow is to play
a wind based instrument exceptionally well.
some down and out slapped his back sayin' that cat really blows |
| Blow you top | To become completely
taken back with surprise, exhaustion, or something extreme.
Just wait 'til you taste this band Daddy, I nearly blew my top when I heard them blow. |
| Blues | 1. A type of jazz
based in a flat key.
2. A feeling of sadness or worry. Jumptown, that new old sound, swing your blues away |
| The Bomb | Very cool.
just you wait 'n' see, this joint's the bomb! |
| Bootleg | Not the real deal,
but close enough.
June said "I'm thirsty for some bootleg jinn" |
| Bose Bouncing | To play notes so low
as to bounce a Bose speaker from its foundation.
I'm sorry, my bass player was just bose bouncing. |
| Bread | Money.
I ain't got the threads cause I ain't got the bread |
| Break It Down | Get hot!! Go to town.
come on baby, let's break it down! |
| Bree | An exceptionally elegant
type of woman.
now if you'll excuse me cats, I'm goin' ta taste the bree in this joint |
| Bug | To annoy or bewilder.
Man, don't "bug" me with that jive about cleanin' up my act. |
| Burnin | Used to describe a
particularly emotional or technically excellent solo.
Hey, man, did you hear that solo by Lee? It was burnin. |
| Cat | Another word for someone
who's hip to the swing scene, usually refers to a guy.
this cat don't get the blues this cat's shakin' on a hot tin roof |
| Character | An interesting, out
of the ordinary person.
Sonny is certainly a character. |
| Charleston | An 8-beat swing step
that fits will with East Coast Swing and The Jitterbug.
come on baby, let shake it up with the Charleston |
| Chick | A pretty girl.
Jumptown, they're off the ground -chicks are flyin' in the air |
| Chill 'ya | When an unusual "hot"
passion gives you goose bumps.
Gee, Jody, doesn't it chill 'ya the way Benny plays the clarinet? |
| Cool | To be good enough
to be laid back about it.
he's the hippest hip and the coolest cat |
| Crazy | To like a lot.
yeah, my gal it queer for cat, she's crazy 'bout the ladies who know where it's at |
| Crib | Someone's home.
hey, baby, come on up to my crib awhile and relax. |
| Crumb | Someone for whom it
is impossible to show respect.
Sleazy Eddie is a real crumb. |
| Cut | Stop. Also to leave
or depart.
Jumptown, cut that frown -man don't be no square! |
| Daddy
(Daddy-O) |
Another word for someone
who's hip to the swing scene, usually refers to a guy.
you found a new scene!? -talk to me Daddy-O |
| Dig | To like.
Ben was wailin' extra hot and every note he blow cats shouted "he's Ben Wailin'" and June was diggin' too |
| Doll
(Dolly) |
Another word for someone
who's hip to the swing scene, usually refers to a girl.
hear the new big sound bands where everyone can dance taking all our dollies and daddies for a holiday romance |
| Dough | Money.
filed my income tax return thought I'd save some dough I cheated just a little bit cause I knew no one would know |
| Down | 1. To agree.
2. To "get down", to dance very intensely. I'm down with that doll, let's jive. |
| Down By Law | To have earned respect
for your talent or ability to "get down."
Charlie Parker spent years on the road working a lot of dives to fine-tune his craft. He earned every bit of success and recognition he later received. He was down by law. |
| Down 'n' Out | A nobody on the scene.
band was playing "blue skies" the bar-keep wore a rose some down and out slapped his back sayin' that cat really blows |
| Drag | As a verb - to depress
or bring down a person's spirits or, as a noun - a person or thing which
depresses.
Let's get outta here, that guy is a real drag. |
| Early Black | Early Evening.
we're headin' on over to the scene, it's still early black, you wanna come? |
| Early Bright | Early Morning.
Nothing like a joint that don't close 'til the early bright. |
| Fews and Twos | A small amount of
money.
don't look at me square, I got just enough fews and twos to pay for my own ticket. |
| Fine | Exceptionally Beautiful
or Handsome
my suit is pressed, shoes are shined loads of money, I'm looking fine |
| Flip Your Lid | To become completely
taken back with surprise, exhaustion, or something extreme.
We was jumpin' so hard I nearly flipped my lid. |
| Front | Fake.
man that cat ain't hip, he's just frontin' |
| Funky | Down-to-earth and
cool.
That George Clinton is one funky cat. |
| Gas | As a noun - something
that moves you. As a verb - to stir up feelings.
The way that guy beats the skins is a real gas. |
| Gammin' | Showing off
that hipsters not even breaking a sweat with them fancy steps, man I wish I could game like that. |
| Green | Money
can't make the scene if you don't have the green |
| Groovin | To really get into
a tune or a tune that you can really get into.
but all eyes were on the catwalk where a dance was groovin high she licked her lips and shagged her heels as she went movin' by |
| Halifax | One of the origins
of swing.
Let's go to Minneapolis, Minnesota Maybe Halifax, Nova Scotia hear the new big sound bands where everyone can dance |
| Hand Me
That Skin |
A big expression for
"shake, pal." (later modified to Hand me some skin)
Hey, whaddya say Rufus, hand me some skin. |
| Hep | One of the predecessors
of "hip". To be knowledgeable in the ways of swing.
Hey hep Cat, what's shakin' |
| Heat | 1. The energy in a
room or on a scene.
I tell you know lie -this guy can't be beat where ever he goes he turns up the heat 2. To yell at. man, I'm tired of that square giving me heat about jivin' with his baby |
| Hip | To be knowledgeable
in the ways of swing.
That hip cast can jive like none other |
| Hipster | One who is knowledgeable
in the ways of swing.
lay it on me hipster |
| In The Pocket | To really have it
together
Those guys are really in the pocket, tonight. |
| Jack | Someone who is on
the swing scene but not quite a hip cat yet, refers to a guy.
when you hit the dance floor you got to be jumpin' jack |
| Jake | Okay.
Even though nobody seems to like him, that guy is jake with me. |
| Jammin' | To improvise, to play
and instrument with feeling, or to dance with feeling - to understand the
tune.
you know you're good when got the whole joint jammin' |
| Jill | Someone who is on
the swing scene but not quite a hip cat yet refers to a girl.
she got a knack for ballin' the jack but she could peel a jill just as easy as that Yow! |
| Jitterbug | An 8-count style of
swing dancing.
I ain't now rock star -don't need no getup just wanna see ya shake jump jive and jitta |
| Jive | 1. To Swing Dance
she says let's go swingin' let's jump and jive mm I know a spot where the music's hot and you'll be the happiest man alive. 2. The terms used by a swinger you dig my jive daddy-o? 3. Another name for Drugs or Alcohol hit that jive jack a-put it in ya pocket 'til I get back |
| Jumpin' | Enthusiastically dancing.
let's hit the dance floor while everyone's still jumpin' |
| Kill | To delight.
You "kill" me, man, the way you're always clowning around. |
| Killer Diller | Something Exceptional.
them steps are killer diller. |
| Knock | To give.
knock me some fews and twos |
| Lame | Something that doesn't
quite cut it.
Some of the cats that claim to be playin' Jazz these days are layin' down some "lame" music. |
| Loot | Money.
he's dressed so fine -he's got lots a loot we like to call 'em Mr. Zoot Suit |
| Man | Any guy on the scene.
watch where you're steppin' man, you're treading on my threads |
| Mellow | To be so good that
you don't even have to try.
I wanna rumble jumble do my number hold my baby all this summer every time i here that mellow saxophone |
| Most | Exceptional.
man you crack me up!! Hey Jack, dig this cat, he's the most! |
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| Out To Lunch | Same as lame, something
that doesn't quite cut it.
That guy is "out to lunch," I can't stand the way he plays. |
| Pad | Someone's home.
swing by my pad and I'll show you how to step. |
| Paint the town | To cover every inch
of, as in; to do everything.
she said let's go swingin' let's paint the town |
| Parsley | A dancer who is simply
a garnish
man that bree is doin' all the steppin', cat's just parsley. |
| Popsicle Stick | A sax player's reed.
I'm playing a great popsicle stick. |
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| Retro | Pertaining to the
swing era.
when every club's gotta retro beat, you know you're in Jumptown |
| Rumpus Room | A late night sing
club.
there wasn't a chance of them arriving too late cause the jumpus Rumpus Room goes from midnight til eight |
| Scat | Freestyle lyrics.
well it don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing -say skittlydum d do bop skid-dum bing bang |
| Scene | The place where all
the action is.
there ain't no scene 'til the hipsters start jumpin' |
| Scratch | Money.
I can't swing tonight, I'm fresh outa scratch |
| Screwin' The Pooch | Really bad mistakes.
Roscoe must've had a bad day, cause he's really screwin' the pooch. |
| Send | To bring to a high
level of understanding
dig that brass blower, man that cat really sends me. |
| Sharp | Clean cut and looking
good.
if these threads were any sharper, I'd cut someone. |
| Sick | Good.
dig these threads? Sick man, sick! |
| Smokin' | Playing or Dancing
your ass off.
I can already tell from outside that Jimmy is "smokin'" tonight. |
| Solid | To understand fully.
You dig my jive? Solid Jack! |
| Spoutin' | Talkin'.
don't spout at me, ain't need ja heat. |
| Square | Someone who either
isn't hip to the swinging scene, or doesn't quite get it. (A very un-cool
individual)
Jumptown, cut that frown -man don't be no square! |
| Step | To dance.
after some drinks they hit the floor for a dance they were steppin together like a movie romance |
| Swing | A type of social dance
with a lot of attitude and style usually based on 6 (East Coast or Jive)
or 8 (Jitterbug, Charleston) counts.
if the town you're in ain't got no swing, no use in hangin' 'round pack you bags 'n' dancing shoes and meet us in Jumptown |
| Take Five | A way of telling someone
to take a five minute break or to take a five minute break.
Hey, Cleanhead, this is a cool tune and we're blowin' too hot. We oughta take five. |
| Taste | To experience something
new or to check something out.
"no steady date - no cash on hand, he was out for a taste with nothing planned" |
| Tight | To fit in with a crowd.
June swooned "I will, but who can marry us tonight" but luckily a preacher man was there and getting tight |
| Threads | Cloths.
hands off the threads jack, I just cashed in all my dough for these. |
| Throw
(Throw Down) |
To fight.
well when we hit down town we start to throw down we end up doin' time |
| Tommy Gun | A type of machine
gun used by gangsters in the swing era.
oh I forgive ya, but my tommy gun don't |
| Twister To
The Slammer |
The key to the door.
I'll let you cats in, just let me get the twister to the slammer in motion. |
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| Vamp | ??
though I like to vamp I ain't no vampire just wanna shake your chimney and light your fire |
| Voodoo | A type of magic that
can only be explained as 'mellow'.
dig the new one from Big Bad Voodoo Daddy? |
| Wail | To play an instrument
with an extreme amount of energy, feeling, and skill.
go Ben! That's my husband, he sure can wail |
| Wild | Astonishing or amazing.
It's really "wild" the way Lee plays the trumpet. |
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| Zip gun | A type of machine
gun used by gangsters in the swing era, a.k.a. a Tommy Gun.
hey Marie, you better grab my jackin zip gun for me |
| Zoot | To dress extremely
well.
he's dressed so fine -he's got lots a loot we like to call 'em Mr. Zoot Suit |
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