J. Jacob Jr. went walking one day
Out in the meadow on Jump-puddle Lane
Whistlin’ a tune and shufflin’ his feet
When he came upon an old man underneath a tree

Now J. Jacob Jr’s Mama brought him up right
She said, "Mind your manners and always be polite"
So J. Jacob Jr. knew just what to do
He tipped his hat and said, "Howdy-do"

The old man nodded his head
Cracked a big smile and he said…

CHORUS
The Jitterbug climbed up the Juniper tree
Just to get himself a jug of Jasmine tea
But the jukebox jangled in the old junkyard
So Jim Dandy jumped in a jellybean jar
Johnny cake, jawbreaker jumbleberry pie
With a jimmy-crack joker on a jingle joyride
The jackrabbits joined in the jolly jubilee
So the jitterbug fell out of the juniper tree


Well J. Jacob Jr. didn’t know what to say
He stood there with a puzzled look on his face
He said, "Excuse me mister, but I didn’t understand
The meaning of the words that you just said."

"The didn’t make sense, but they sounded really nice.
Was that a riddle or was it advice?
If it’s all the same to you I’d like to hear ‘em twice.
Could you tell it to me one more time?"

The old man nodded his head
Cracked a big smile and he said…

REPEAT CHORUS

‘Bout this time people started gathering around
From all across the country came a great big crowd
They sat and they listened and they scratched their heads
Trying to gather meaning from the words he said.

They didn’t understand him so they thought he must be smart
Some said "philosophy" others said "art"
Then a lady from the back called out,
"Please Mister, tell us what it’s all about."

The old man nodded his head
Cracked a big smile and he said…

REPEAT CHORUS

Now J. Jacob Jr. and all of them folks
Memorized every word the old man spoke
They practiced ad they practiced til they knew it by heart
It might sound funny, but it turned out smart

Cause all them people now they always act nice
They never disagree and they never get in fights
Whenever they meet down on Jump-puddle Lane
They greet each other this way

They look one another in the face
Crack a big smile and they say…


REPEAT CHORUS