(Verse)
Into a cabaret
One fatal day
A little songbird flew
Found it so very gay
He thought he'd stay
Just to get a bird's-eye view
When he heard the jazz band playin'
He was happy as a lark
To each measure he was swayin'
And he stayed till after dark
Then back to the land he knew
Thrilled through and through
He sailed on in the air
Called to the other birds
And in these words
Started gurgling then and there:

(Chorus)
I'm a little jazz bird
And I'm tellin' you to be one, too
For a little jazz bird
Is in heaven when he's singin' blue

I say it with regret
But you're out of date
You ain't heard nothin' yet
Till you syncopate
When the goin' is rough
You will find your troubles all have flown
If you warble your stuff
Like the moanin' of a saxophone

Just try my recipe
And I'm sure you'll agree
That a little jazz bird
Is the only kind of bird to be

(whistling break)

I say it with regret
But you're out of date
You ain't heard nothin' yet
Till you syncopate

(whistling break)

Just try my recipe
And I'm sure you'll agree
That a little jazz bird
Is the only kind of bird to be