DESCRIPTION:
"A real slow drag" from Scott Joplin's Opera "Treemonisha" performed by Houston Grand Opera Orchestra conducted by Gunther Schuller who is the arranger of 1911 Joplin's piano version. Recorded in 1975 for DG.
Performers: Dwight Ransom, Curtis Rayam, Betty Allen, Ben Harney, Willard White, Cora Johnson, Dorceal Duckens, Carmen Balthrop, Kenneth Hicks, Edward Pierson, Raymond Bazemore

Text:

TREEMONISHA

Salute your partner, do the drag.
Stop and move backward, do the drag.
All of you stop.

Look to your right and do the drag.
To your left, that's the way.

(All stop, salute partners, and then march, doing the dude walk.)

TREEMONISHA and LUCY

Marching onward, marching onward,
Marching to that lovely tune;
Marching onward, marching onward,
Happy as a bird in June.
Sliding onward, sliding onward,
Listen to that rag.

Hop and skip,
Now do that Slow Drag.

Dance slowly, prance slowly,
While you hear that pretty rag.
Dance slowly, prance slowly,
Now you do the real Slow Drag.

Walk slowly, talk lowly,

TREEMONISHA, LUCY and CHORUS

Listen to that rag.
Hop and skip,
Now do that Slow Drag.

TREEMONISHA

Move along, don't stop,
(All Schottische)
Don't stop dancing,
Drag along.
Stop!

Move along, don't stop,
(All Schottische)
Don't stop dancing,
Drag along,
(All Slow Drag)
Doing the real Slow Drag.

Move along, don't stop, etc.

TREEMONISHA, LUCY, and WOMEN

Marching onward, marching onward, etc.

(All march, doing the dude walk.)

EVERYONE

Dance slowly, prance slowly,
While you hear that pretty rag.
Dance slowly, prance slowly,
Now you do the real Slow Drag.

Walk slowly, talk lowly,
Listen to that rag.
Hop and skip,
Now do that Slow Drag.

End of Opera.