[Dixielandjazz] Dr. Jazz

[briantowers]

You have a lively imagination Steve.
I still maintain that the message intended in the lyric is that jazz is
lively, happy music and the ideal thing to cheer you up when you have the
blues. Once you have heard it, you are hooked, addicted etc.   Dr Jazz is
the music, not some drug pusher!    The lyric is innocent!

"He's the man who makes me get out both my dancing shoes."  This line gives
the main message.  If it was a drug adict shooting himself up with heroin or
whatever,  it is unlikely he would be wanting to dance around!
The writer means that it is  the "jazz" that is addictive.  It is the beat,
melody and excitement of the music that creates the urge to dance in the
song.  The music is so uplifting that one does not need drugs to enjoy it
properly.

I cannot see it as a hidden message for drug addicts.   The allusions you
mention, like "get me fixed etc" simply showed that this glorious hot jazz
music was addictive.

That's my spin on it, anyway!
Brian Towers,

> Brian Towers questions Dr. Jazz being a "drug" double entendre tune.
> Here are the lyrics.
>
> Verse
> Every body gets the blues now and then,
> and don't know what to do
> I've had it happen many, many times to me
> and so have you.
> But   those days have gone and  past,
> I found out what to do at last,
> When I feel all in, down and  out,
> You will hear me shout:
>
>  Chorus
>  Oh, Hello  Central, give me Doctor Jazz,
>  He's got just what I need, I'll say he has.
>  When the world goes wrong, and I got the blues,
>  He's the man who makes me get out both my dancing shoes.
>  The more I get, the more I want, it seems.
>  I page old Doctor Jazz in all my dreams,
>  When I'm trouble bound and mixed, He's the guy that gets me fixed,
>  Hello, Central, give me Doctor Jazz.
>
>  Circa 1927
>  Lyric by Walter Melrose, Music by Joseph "King" Oliver
>
> As Brian says, Joe Oliver might not have fooled around with drugs, But
> then, he didn't write the lyric. Walter Melrose of Melrose Brothers
> publishing did. And of course, Oliver being from New Orleans in those
> halcyon days would certainly have experienced the world of thugs, drugs
> and prostitutes. The so-called seamy beginnings of jazz.
>
> And Melrose Brothers?  Hey, they were a publishing house and sure to
> recognize the value of referring to "doing the naughty" politely for the
> "in crowd" jazz fans.
>
> Anyway, the lyrics speak for themselves.
>
> The more I get the MORE I WANT,
> I page old Dr. Jazz in all my DREAMS
> He's the guy that gets me FIXED.
>
> This was circa 1927, the Jazz Age, rebellious jazz fans, wild kids, etc.
> Not us old fuddy duddies listening to "artsy music".
>
> Cheers,
> Steve