American Songbook
#5 "Maple Leaf Rag"	Composition Scott Joplin 1899; Lyrics Sydney Brown 1903          Scott Joplin

In 1899 Scott Joplin wrote one of his earliest and most successful ragtime compositions "Maple Leaf Rag", which is named in to pay homage to the Maple Leaf Club in Sedalia, MO. The piece was initially instrumental and sold as sheet music ( over1million copies) with royalties of .01 cents per copy. In 1903 Sydney Brown created lyrics for the stage and in 1916 was recorded for a piano roll.

Scott Joplin came from Linden, Texas and his mother raised money enough to buy a piano by cleaning homes. Also, once he showed talent Scott was given free classical lessons by a German music teacher, Julius Weiss. Joplin combined classical music, marching band and blues to create a new musical form called 'Ragtime'. While studying music at George R. Smith college in Sedalia, MO, Joplin played at the Maple Leaf Club. He composed over 70 compositions and in his later years Joplin wrote an opera. His performances varied and he suffered from terminal syphilis that caused disability in his playing.

Ragtime continued  into jazz and films, but in the 1974 film "The Sting", Marvin Hamlisch adapted Joplin's music for the film. Joplin's rag "The Entertainer" rose to #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts.

Verse 1: I came from ole Virginy From de county Acomac
I have no wealth to speak of 'cept de clothes upon my back.
I can do de country hoe down I can buck and wing to show down,
And while I'm in the notion just step back and watch my motion.

Chorus: Oh go 'way man I can hypnotize dis nation,
I can shake de earth's foundation wid de Maple Leaf Rag
Oh go 'way man just hold you breath a minit,
For there's not a stunt thats in it with the Maple Leaf Rag.

Verse 2: I dropp'd into de swellest ball, The great exclusive it,
But my face was dead agin me and my trousers didn't fit.
But when Maple Leaf was started my timidity departed.
I lost my trepidation you could taste de admiration.

Chorus: Oh go 'way man I can hypnotize dis nation,
I can shake de earth's foundation wid de Maple Leaf Rag
Oh go 'way man just hold you breath a minit,
For there's not a stunt thats in it with the Maple Leaf Rag.

INTERLUDE WITH DANCE

Verse 3: De men were struck wid jealousy, De razors 'gan to flash.
But de ladies gathered 'round me for I'd sholy made a mash.
De finest belle she sent a boy to call a coach and four.
We rode around a season till we both were lost to reason

Chorus: Oh go 'way man I can hypnotize dis nation,
I can shake de earth's foundation wid de Maple Leaf Rag
Oh go 'way man just hold you breath a minit,
For there's not a stunt thats in it with the Maple Leaf Rag.

Note: The song is in Eb, not Ab like the rag, and the C section is omitted.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7cFkae0j_Ns