I Want To Be A Sideman - Rosemary Clooney, Gary Foster, Count Basie Orchestra

I want to be a sideman

Just an ordinary sideman

A go along for the ride man

Responsibility free

I wanna fill behind the vocal

Double on flute

Jam on the blues

I wanna go and join the local

Buy a dark suit

Stock payin' dues

I want to maintain my book

In neatly numbered order

I wanna listen to Lester Young

On my recorder

I want to play while the people dance

I wanna press my own coat and pants

I wanna ask for an advance

I wanna be a sideman

I wanna be a sideman

Just a highly qualified man

A real professional pride man

Old indispensible me

Now I can cut whatever comes up

Fake and transpose

Won’t make a fuss

I wanna set the vibes and drums up

Sightread the shows

Sleep on the bus

I want to spend all my time

With music and musicians

I wanna go out and grab a smoke

On intermissions

I want to sleep in the afternoons

And let the leader call all the tunes

I wanna be young

I wanna have fun

I want to be a sideman

I wanna work for a superstar

I wanna hang in the hotel bar

I wanna be young

I wanna have fun

I want to be a sideman