The two-step it drug like a ball and chain
While the band was playing
Something like "Moon River" or "Somewhere Over The Rainbow"
And I was chasing the black man with the champagne
And I was chasing the black girl with the Oysters Rockefeller

And it was a highbrow occasion for no special reason
And nobody knew, said nobody knew
That the flowers were furnished by the funeral parlor
And the whole thing was paid for by the funeral director
Who poisoned the saxophone section

And if you ain't the big daddy, well, you ain't nobody
If you ain't the big daddy, you ain't nobody
Red and yellow, black and tan
But white, that's the color of the big boss man

It was a twenty-piece orchestra at the Warwick Hotel
With some fat man from the opera who tried to sing "Misty"
And it was black men and black boys in white ties and tails
And mascara and rouge and fake fingernails

If you ain't the big daddy, you ain't nobody
If you ain't the big daddy, you ain't nobody
Red and yellow, black and tan
But white, that's the color of the big boss man
They had 'em everywhere, man
They had one on every foot and every hand
And they was all saying "yes sir" and "right away ma'am"
And they was picking up plates
And they was pouring wine
And they was checking umbrellas
And making shoes shine
And they was handing out towels
In the washroom for a quarter

And it was an acceptable level of ecstasy
As far as everyone could see
But nobody knew, said nobody knew
That the flowers were furnished by the funeral parlor
And the whole thing was paid for by the funeral director
Who poisoned the saxophone section

And if you ain't the big daddy, you ain't nobody
If you ain't the big daddy, you ain't nobody
Red and yellow, black and tan
But white, that's the color of the big boss man