Uploaded May 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
"The Ragtime Violin" was written by Irving Berlin. Published in 1911 by Ted Snyder Co., it is a popular ragtime song written early in Berlin's career. The song features lyrics about a character named Mr. Brown playing a violin in a ragtime style and was famously featured in the 1948 film Easter Parade. Verse 1: Mister Brown, Mister Brown had a violin, Went around, all around with his violin. Lawdy, how he play'd it, sway'd it, made it moan so beautiful; Anna Lize, Anna Lize heard his violin, Roll'd her eyes, roll'd her eyes at his violin, Lawdy, how he lov'd 'er, turtled doved 'er, When Anna would cry.
Chorus: Fiddle up, fiddle up on your violin, Lay right on it, rest your chin upon it, Doggone you better begin, And play an overture upon your violin; Hurry up, hurry up with your violin, Make it sooner, don't you stop to tune 'er, Fid, fid, fid, fiddle the middle of your ragtime violin.
Verse 2: Mister Brown, Mister Brown at a fancy ball, Sat around, sat around, sat around the hall. Wouldn't take a chance to dance, because the band was terrible; Anna Lize, Anna Lize hit upon a plan, Roll'd her eyes, roll'd her eyes at the leader man, Took his fiddle down to Mister Brown, to Just kiss him and cry. (Chorus again)
"The Ragtime Violin" was written by Irving Berlin. Published in 1911 by Ted Snyder Co., it is a popular ragtime song written early in Berlin's career. The song features lyrics about a character named Mr. Brown playing a violin in a ragtime style and was famously featured in the 1948 film Easter Parade. Verse 1: Mister Brown, Mister Brown had a violin, Went around, all around with his violin. Lawdy, how he play'd it, sway'd it, made it moan so beautiful; Anna Lize, Anna Lize heard his violin, Roll'd her eyes, roll'd her eyes at his violin, Lawdy, how he lov'd 'er, turtled doved 'er, When Anna would cry.
Chorus: Fiddle up, fiddle up on your violin, Lay right on it, rest your chin upon it, Doggone you better begin, And play an overture upon your violin; Hurry up, hurry up with your violin, Make it sooner, don't you stop to tune 'er, Fid, fid, fid, fiddle the middle of your ragtime violin.
Verse 2: Mister Brown, Mister Brown at a fancy ball, Sat around, sat around, sat around the hall. Wouldn't take a chance to dance, because the band was terrible; Anna Lize, Anna Lize hit upon a plan, Roll'd her eyes, roll'd her eyes at the leader man, Took his fiddle down to Mister Brown, to Just kiss him and cry. (Chorus again)
