I had to listen to the Carmen McRae second LP again after listening to the Monk sides as I wanted to hear her singing Jimmy Rowles' song
"The Ballad of Thelonious Monk"
I used to think cowboy music
was the only thing there was
Then I heard Theloniuos Monk.
The place was filled to the rafters
with musicians and the fuzz
They all loved Thelonious Monk.
I didn't know what he was playin,
but the dog next door kept bayin
and the waitress was humming along.
Then I forget about Gene Autry
and the things he taught me
when I heard Thelonious Monk.
Right then and there I took up bebop
forgot about the cows.
I wouldn't feed my horse any hay
That horse, he knew I had them records
so he hung around the house
Ears a'cocked to hear the Monk play
He threw me clear to Santa Monica
when he heard Monk play Panonica
and his gallop is startin to swing.
And I forgot about Gene Autry
and the things he taught me
when I heard Thelonious Monk.
And when roundup time was over
we rode into town
I tied Old Paint right up to the door.
And when Monk played Round Midnight
the house came down
you can hear Old Paint just a-snortin for more.
I hear the boys in the bunkhouse singin Straight no Chaser
and my heart goes clickety clunk.
Now that's all I want to hear
Cause I have branded my last steer
All because, all because
of Thelonious Monk.
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