OPENER - MIDDLE BREAK - CLOSER    Basic

Four ladies chain that old ring
You turn em and chain her home I sing
You join up hands, circle to the left go movin' on around the hall
Do an allemande left with the corner of the hall
And you weave around the ring
I can't wait to hear 'em shuffling along
Swing and promenade her back home
It's simply great, mate, waiting on the levy
Waiting for the Robert E. Lee

FIGURE    Mainstream, corner progression

Heads square thru in the middle and get four hands around
All the way with a right & left thru and then
Swing thru tonight, the boy run right
Half tag, scoot back and you move on in and then
Hinge and balance, scoot back
Swing the with the corner girl and you promenade
It's simply great, mate, waiting on the levy
Waiting for the Robert E. Lee

Way down on the levy in old Alabamy
There's Daddy and Mammy
There's Ephraim and Sammy
On a moonlight night you can find them all
While they are waiting,
The banjos are syncopating

What's that they're saying?
What's that they're saying?
While they keep playing
A - humming and swaying
It's the good ship Robert E. Lee that's come to carry the cotton away!

Watch them shuffling along,
See them shuffling along!
Go take your best gal, real pal
Go down to the levy,
I said to the levy, and join that shuffling throng
Hear that music and song!
It's simply great, mate, waiting on the levy
Waiting for the Robert E. Lee!

The whistles are blowing, the smokestacks are showing
The ropes they are throwing, excuse me I'm going
To the place where all is harmonious
Even the preacher, he is the dancing teacher!
Have you been down there? Were you around there?
If you ever go there you'll always be found there,
Why, dog-gone, here comes my baby on the good old Robert E. Lee!

Watch them shuffling along,
See them shuffling along
Go take your best gal, real pal
Go down to the levy, I said to the levy,
And join that shuffling throng
Hear that music and song!
It's simply great, mate, waiting on the levy
Waiting for the Robert E. Lee!

Composed by Lewis F. Muir.
Lyrics by L. Wolfe Gilbert.
Recorded by Al Jolson; Mickey Rooney & Judy Garland; Dean Martin; many others.