Dat Dere

datdere
PROFILE
Composer Bobby Timmons
Lyricist Oscar Brown, Jr.
Year Written 1960
About Dat Dere
The jazz instrumental “Dat Dere” was written in 1960 by Bobby Timmons; it was first played by Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers in 1960, with Timmons on piano. Oscar Brown, Jr. wrote lyrics for the tune in 1961 for his album Sin & Soul … and Then Some. The song has been recorded by jazz and popular singers including Mel Tormé and Rickie Lee Jones.

Lyrics

Hey mama, what’s that there? And what’s that doing there?
Hey mama, hey mama, hey look at that over there!
And what’s that doing there? And where’re they going there?
And mummy can I have that big elephant over there?

And who’s that in my chair? And what’s he doing there?
Mama, hey mama, can I go over there?
Hey mama, what is square? And where do we get air?
And mama can I have that big elephant over there?

Quizzical kid, she doesn’t want anything here
Just forever to manage to know who what why or where
Inquisitive child, sometimes the questions get wild
Like mommy can I have that big elephant over there?

Don’t wanna comb my hair and where’s my teddy bear?
And mama, hey look at the cowboy coming there
And can I have a pair of boots like that to wear?
And mama can I have that big elephant over there?

The time will march days will go
And little baby’s going to grow
I gotta tell her what she needs to know
I’ll help her along and she’ll be strong

And she’ll know right from wrong
As life’s parade goes marching by
She’s gonna need to know some reasons why
I don’t have all the answers but I’ll try to do what I can
We’ll make a plan

You give the kid your best and hope she’ll pass the test
And finally send her out into the world somewhere
And though she’s grown up I bet I never will forget
Mummy, can I have that big elephant over there?

Hey why they do that there? And how you put that there?
Hey mummy, up here! Hey mummy, what that say up there?
Hey mummy, what is fair? How come I have to share?
And mummy can I have that big elephant over there?
And mummy can I have that big elephant over there?
And mummy can I have that big elephant over there?

Session / Album Information

1998

“Dat Dere” was recorded in June 1998 and released that same year on the album The Playground.

Dat Dere

Listen to Dat Dere on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1998.

This recording released on:

  • 1998: Columbia CD: CK 69380 —The Playground
  • 2011: Disc #64 in The Tony Bennett Complete Collection (88697874602-JK62) The Playground

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