If You'se a Viper - Stuff Smith

Written in the late 20s by the legendary jazz violinist Stuff Smith (1909-1967) , who is remembered as “the cat that took the apron-strings off the fiddle.”


G                         Em    Am         D
Dream about a reefer five feet long
G               Em         Am        D
It's mighty mezz but not too strong
G            G7          C         F9
You'll be high, but not for long
G    D        G
If you're a viper

I'm the king of everything
Gotta be high before I can swing
Light a tea and let it be
If you're a viper

G7
When your throat gets dry
G7
And you know you're high
C
And everything is dandy
A7
Truck on down to the candy store
D
And bust your top on peppermint candy
 
Then you know that you're body's spent.
You don't care if you don't pay rent.
Sky is high and so am I
If you're a viper.

A spontaneous rendition here by my friend Neil Hopper on the Newcastle Quayside.