Perhaps it was something that hit me, perhaps it was something I ate
But out of the blue I dreamed I met you and you said to me, "Hi, ya Gate!"
Millions have heard you play Chopin, the critics applaud and approve
But millions more would simply adore to hear you get in the groove

You won't believe it, you'll think it's a dream
To hear them riffing it, right on the beam
But when you hear trumpets give out a call, you'll know
The Joint Is Really Jumpin' down at Carnegie Hall

Instead of Strauss they play Irving Berlin
Instead of Brahms it's "Begin the Beguine"
Those classic ackies are due for a fall since
The Joint Is Really Jumpin' down at Carnegie Hall

They're playing
Ta-tlee-a-ti, Ta-tlee-a-ti, with Shostakovich
Ta-tlee-a-ti, Ta-tlee-a-ti, Mozart and Bach
Ta-tlee-a-ti, Ta-tlee-a-ti, and they don't know which
'Cause anything can happen when they start to rock

The philharmonic was so dignified
But now they're groovy and starting to ride
Handel and Haydn are facing the wall
'cause The Joint Is Really Jumpin' down in Carnegie Hall
They-hey swing ev'rything with a ding dong
And when the Maestro gives them a beat, it's a
Reet Beat that starts 'em to toot with a
Root Toot that's a bit of alright
And even Jose Iturbi getting hep, he's hep, he's hep
Boy!

Tschai-Tschai-Tschai-kovsky would really be hurt
To hear 'em jivin' his Piano Concert
Beethoven's lucky, he can't hear at all
Because the Joint Is Really Jumpin' down at Carnegie Hall