That's Your Red Wagon

Anita O'Day · Other Songs - Anita O'Day

If you wanna go crazy, be the clown

Be the laughing stock all over town

That's your red wagon

That's your red wagon

So just keep draggin' your red wagon along



If you stick your nose someplace it don't belong

Doncha come to me if things go wrong

That's your red wagon

That's your red wagon

So just keep draggin your red wagon along



When you're making your bed, don't forget who'll do the lyin' there

And when you butter your bread

Don't expect me to eat your share



If you wanna play the horses

Doncha come to me if they don't show

That's your red wagon, that's your red wagon

So just keep draggin your red wagon along



Now you've finally learned you'll get burned if you play with fire

So don't come runnin to me you can't use me for your spare tire



If you wanna sing me love songs, don't know my key

Don't you come singin' the blues to me



That's your red wagon, oh, that's your red wagon

So just keep draggin your red wagon along



That's your red wagon, your red wagon,

oh, your red wagon, yea, your red wagon

So just keep draggin your red wagon along

That's Your Red Wagon

Anita O'Day's 'That's Your Red Wagon' stands as a quintessential example of the swing era's vocal style, showcasing her signature bright, clear tone and rhythmic phrasing. Recorded in the late 1930s, the track exemplifies the genre's blend of jazz improvisation and pop sensibility that defined the period. The song reflects the upbeat, carefree spirit of the time, featuring a lively arrangement typical of O'Day's work with her orchestra. It remains a significant song in her discography, illustrating her ability to deliver catchy melodies with a distinct vocal personality that influenced countless subsequent vocalists. The recording captures the essence of big band performance, highlighting both the instrumental energy and O'Day's precise delivery.