Thomas "Fats" Waller

Thomas "Fats" Waller was one of the most influential people in bringing jazz to Harlem. In the 1920's Thomas Waller started recording his music and made a living by performing at rent parties. Throughout his career, Waller worked as a pianist, band leader, entertainer, and composer. One of Waller's most famous jazz songs is The Joint is Jumpin'. In this song, Fats Waller gives a humorous description of a disastrous rent party.

They have a new expression along old Harlem way, That tells you when a party is
ten times more than gay: To say that things are jumpin' leaves not a single
doubt, That everthing is in full swing when you hear someone shout. Here 'tis:
The joint is jumpin', It's really jumpin', Come in, cats, and check your
hats, I mean this joint is jumpin'!
The piano's thumpin', The dancers are
bumpin', This here spot is more than hot, In fact, the joint is jumpin'!
Check your weapons at the door, Be sure to pay your quarter, Burn your
leather on the floor, Grab anybody's daughter.
The roof is rockin', The
neighbors knockin', We're all bums when the wagon comes, I mean, this joint is
jumpin'!
[Spoken] Let it be! Yas! Burn this joint, boy! Yas! Oh, my! Yas!
Don't you hit that chick, that's my broad! Where'd you get that stuff at? Why,
I'll knock you to your knees! What? Put this cat out of here! What? Get rid of
that pistol! Get rid of that pistol! Yeah! Get rid of it, yas! Yeah! That's what
I'm talkin' about! Ha, ha! Yas! Now it's really ready! No, baby, not now, I
can't come over there right now. Yeah, let's do it! [Party noises and shouting]
The joint is jumpin', It's really jumpin'! Every Mose is on his toes, I mean
this joint is jumpin'!
[Police whistle]
Uh-oh! No time for talkin', This
place is walkin', yes, Get your jug and cut the rug, I think the joint is
jumpin'. Listen!
Get your pig feet, bread and gin, There's plenty in the
kitchen! Who is that that just came in? Just look at the way he's switchin'!
[Spoken] Aw, mercy, Don't mind the hour, I'm in power. I've got bail if we
go to jail. I mean this joint is jumpin'! Don't give your right name, no, no,
no, no!

The rhythm of this song is a good representation of jazz, whish was a very popular and growing type of music during the Harlem Renaissance. The fast tempo and happy lyrics of the song reflect the celebratory attitude most people had in Harlem at the time. It is also humorous, which shows that the people of Harlem enjoyed relaxing and having fun with the people around them.