What is the Meaning of Trip the Light Fantastic? Music and Politics Music History by da jack hayford - August 19, 2016March 9, 20230 To “Trip the Light Fantastic” is to dance. Scholars point to an early reference made to the phrase, if not the first, in a famous pastoral poem by John Milton, published in 1631, entitled L’Allegro: “Com, and trip it as ye go, On the light fantastick toe…” A lot happened between 1631 and the 1890’s era of Tin Pan Alley. A lot of dancing got done. But during those late 19th century years when music began a commercial hey-day, particularly in New York, “tripping the light fantastic” came of age in a classic Tin Pan song called “The Sidewalks of New York.” “East Side, West Side, all around the townThe kids sang ‘ring around rosie,’ ‘London Bridge is falling down’Boys and girls together, me and Mamie O’RourkeWe tripped the light fantastic on the sidewalks of New York…” The song is very reminiscent of other Tin Pan compositions. In fact, the first line of the melody is virtually identical to an earlier popular song, “Daisy,” commonly called “On a Bicycle Built for Two.” “Daisy, Daisy, give me your answer, do…” “East side, west side, all around the town…” Probably the person most responsible for the enduring (and endearing) legacy of “Sidewalks” is the once Governor of New York, Alfred E. “Al” Smith. Smith, a Democrat, ran for president in the election of 1928. “The Sidewalks of New York” was his campaign song. However, he tripped fantastically in the ensuing election and was defeated in a landslide by Republican Herbert Hoover, the 31st President of the United States. The week of April 30, 1928, Time Magazine featured Al Smith on the cover. Early in the campaign as it was, Smith’s election chances were looking good. Said Time in the cover story, “Last week was Smith Week among the Democrats. East coast, West coast, all around the land, the Smith candidacy seemed to have reached a new high-tide line.” It wasn’t to be however. Smith was still big all around “the town” — a skyscraper was erected in his name in Albany, N.Y. that same year, 1928 — but he failed to capture “the land.” “The Sidewalks of New York” has been recorded countless times and has attained the rank of a “standard,” thanks in part to the likes of jazz greats Mel Torme, Duke Ellington and Cannonball Adderly, to name just a few. The next time you travel the sidewalks of New York, have a nice trip. The Sidewalks of New York Lyrics(Words and Music by James W. Blake and Charles E. Lawlor) East Side, West Side, all around the townThe kids sang “ring around rosie,” “London Bridge is falling down”Boys and girls together, me and Mamie O’RourkeWe tripped the light fantastic on the sidewalks of New York East Side, West Side, all around the townSweet Mamie grew up and bough herself a sweet little Alice-blue gownAll the fellas dug her, you should have heard them squarkWhen I escorted Mamie round the sidewalks of New York East Side, West Side, riding through the parksWe started swinging at Jilly’s then we split to P.J.Clark’sOn to Chuck’s Composite, then a drink at The StorkWe won’t get home until morning ’cause we’re going to take a walkOn the sidewalks of New York Alternate Lyrics: Down in front of Casey’s old brown wooden stoopOn a summer’s evening we formed a merry groupBoys and girls together we would sing and waltzWhile Tony played the organ on the sidewalks of New York East Side, West Side, all around the townThe tots sang “ring-around-rosie,” “London Bridge is falling down”Boys and girls together, me and Mamie O’RourkeTripped the light fantastic on the sidewalks of New York That’s where Johnny Casey, little Jimmy CroweJakey Krause, the baker, who always had the doughPretty Nellie Shannon with a dude as light as corkShe first picked up the waltz step on the sidewalks of New York Things have changed since those times, some are up in “G”Others they are wand’rers but they all feel just like meThey’d part with all they’ve got, could they once more walkWith their best girl and have a twirl on the sidewalks of New York Share this:Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)MoreClick to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)Like this:Like Loading...