I’d been listening to a group called The Swan Silvertones – an old gospel group. This is what came out. Here’s to Claude Jeter and the rest of the Silvertones. And here’s to everybody getting along.

You shoulda been there
You shoulda been there
You shoulda been there
You know that everybody came

I’ve been looking all over
I’ve been looking for you
Did you hear what happened
Did you hear the news
People talking ‘bout the party
Everybody everywhere
Everybody had a good time
You shoulda been there

They came from the mountain
They came from the sea (from the sea)
They came from New York
And gay Paree (oo la la)
They came from China
Zimbabwe too (Zimbabwe too)
They came from all over
Man where were you! (where were you)

CHORUS
You shoulda been there (shoulda been there)
You shoulda been there (shoulda been there)
There was food on the table (on the table)
There was music in the air (in the air)
Everybody had a good time (oo)
Everybody was fair (oo)
Everybody was happy (yeah)
You shoulda been there (shoulda been there)

Some people came bare foot (bare foot)
Some people wore shoes (all children got shoes)
Some people did the shimmy (did the shimmy)
Some did the boogaloo (boogie woogie boogaloo)
Some singing in the chorus (ah)
Some singing in the rain (singing in the rain)
Everybody was different (some people are different)
Everybody was the same (we’re all the same)

Birds singing in the trees (tweet tweet tweet)
People beatin’ on the drums
Frog sitting on a lily pad (sitting on a lily)
Goin’ “hum hum hum” (ribet, ribet, ribet)
Everybody let their light shine (let your light shine)
Made a joyful sound (hallelujah)
The whole world was shakin’ (shakin’, shakin’)
Goin’ round and round

CHORUS

Now don’t you worry, (don’t you worry)
Now don’t you fret (don’t you fret)
I’m tellin’ you this time (this time brother)
Now don’t forget (don’t forget)
I’m telln’ everybody (everybody)
Everybody everywhere (everywhere)
Gonna do it all over (all over the world)
You got to be there

You got to be there (you got to be there)
You got to be there (you got to be there)
Put the food on the table (on the table)
Put the music in the air (in the air)
Everybody they happy (oo)
Everybody be fair (oo)
Everybody have happy (yeah)
You got to be there (you got to be there)
You got to be there (you got to be there)
Repeat to fade

© Bill Harley, all rights reserved. Reprints with permission only.