You know I remember a few years ago, some funny things used to happen

to me, about 1956-57.  At that time, there was no blues scene or, uh, not 

really any kind of scene in, uh, London.  I used to go out and play my guitar

in the streets and sing things with uh, bars and a hat down.  I remember one

particular night, I was uh, playing the guitar in a little alleyway just off of 

Walldor street in Soho and uh, I got busted by the police.  This policeman 

came up and dragged me and my guitar and my hat full of pennies off to 

the police station.  Anyway, the next day I had to appear in Marlboro street 

police court and uh, it was quite a day. Police officer giving his evidence:



"I was proceeding in a Southerly direction, milord, when I heard uh, strange 

sounds coming from the Walldor place, milord.  A sort of boogie-woogie music 

was being played.  On further investigation, I saw the defendant standing there 

with a guitar and an old hat on the floor collecting pennies.  Well, I decided that 

uh, he was contravening a breach of the peace, there as there was a traffic jam 

about five miles long down on Walldor street, wondering what all the uh, fuss was 

about, so then I arrested the uh, defendant"



"Uh, just one moment, officer.  Wh-what is this boogie-woogie music here we're

talking about?"



"Oh, well milord", said the officer, getting out his notebook, obviously been up 

doing his homework, "it's a kind of jazz rhythm music peculiar to the American 

negro"



"Oh.  What was the defendant doing, uh, playing this kind of music there in 

Walldor street?"



Anyway, I got off with a caution, a year's conditional discharge, but I'll always 

remember that policeman and his boogie-woogie, so don't try to lay no 

boogie-woogie on the king of rock and roll.



Don't you tell me n-n-n-no lies woman 'cause all you know I've told 

Don't sell me no alibi sister 'cause all you've got I've sold 

You better leave that midnight sneakin' to the one who worked it out 

I don't wanna hear no back talk speakin' go on and shut yer mouth 

And everything's gonna work out tight if you act like you been told 

So don't try to lay no boogie woogie on the king of rock and roll. 



Don't you feed me no TV dinners when you know I'm used to steak 

I don't need no rank beginners when it's time to shake that shake 

You better pull your thing together, reach in and dust it out 

And if ya feel that you just can't dig it then I guess you know the route 

It ain't a matter of pork 'n beans that's gonna justify your soul 

Just don't try to lay no boogie woogie on the king of rock and roll. 



Don't try to lay no boogie-woogie on the king of rock and roll.



You weren't alive when I started to drive, so don't put none on me 

You didn't arrive 'til late '45 but your head's in '53. 

You got what it takes to keep the heads a-spinnin' down by the old rim shack 

And you come across just like a fool grinnin' in the back of a red Cadillac. 

You can't come across the obstacle bridge until you pay the toll 

So don't try to lay no boogie woogie on the king of rock and roll.