Lyrics by Armand J. Piron, 1922
I never get a chance at romance
The boys all want to date my sister Kate
Katie never read a book
And she never learned to cook
But she’s always got a string of fish upon her hook
When she’s around, the boys all pass me by
And then last night I learned the reason why
I went to a dance with my sister Kate
I’m telling you she was really great
I didn’t have to wait all night
‘Til I began to see the light
Kate did a dance that was something new
She shook her shoulders and then I knew
Why all the boys are going wild
Over sister Katie’s style
I wish that I could I shimmy like my sister Kate
She shimmies like jelly on a plate
My mammy wanted to know last night
Why all the boys treat Kate so right
Every boy that’s in the neighborhood
Knows that she can shimmy and she shimmies good
I may be late, but I’ll be up-to-date
When I can shimmy like my sister Kate
Shimmy like my sister Kate
I may be late, but I’ll be up-to-date
When I can shimmy like my sister Kate, oh yeah
Shimmy like my sister Kate
Shimmy like my sister Kate