It began as an experiment,
A little new, but with the time cleverly spent,
It woke up musical minds and boy, it sure made a dent,
And so we know that Bebop lives.

Dizzy, Bird, Miles, they did it their way,
Swingtime people didn't figure it would stay,
But they split, wouldn't ya know, because the time was passé
And so we know that Bebop Lives.

And then there was a cat
Who then started to scat,
It made impressions that, establishing a school, became a popular pastime,
For bop when in it's prime,
Would differentiate the hot from the cool.

Second, third generation still blow,
All the flatted fifths that we certainly know,
Like "Koko," don't forget "Four" and then there's
Night in Tunisia, so we know that Bebop Lives.

(Scat section)

Time ticks on and the music remains.
Now Mark and Annie sing their lovely refrains
With boppin' melodies always spinning round in their brains
And so we know that Bebop Lives.
Dizzy, Bird, and Miles are smiling away,
Watching over generational display
Of musicality mentored by the greats of the day
And so they know that Bebop Lives

You're singin' it all wrong, if Swing isn't your song.
To improvise a melody over the usual forgettable old pitch.
You ain't singin' with Mitch.
You're breaking grounds and breaking all of the rules
Alter all the progressions you blow.
Sing the tempos that define what you can show
And then you bopify ev'ry single song that you know
And so we know that Bebop Lives.

Bebop Lives!
We know that Bebop Lives!