Get It Straight (Swisher)

'Straight No Chaser' is a jazz standard composed by pianist Thelonious Monk. It was first recorded by his quintet feat. Art Blakey, Sahib Shihab, Al McKibbon and Milt Jackson in July 1951 for release on Blue Note.

Lyrics were much later added by Sally SWISHER as 'Get It Straight':

Well Monk set it straight
It's not a time when you wait
You gotta be on, you gotta be strong
The time is here, so trust your life to your ear
Don't wait for no one, they'll have to grow on
Because the homeland is the place where it happens
And there's no one who can help you to straight
No, no, no, no...

This Monk had a way
Of being out of his day, ahead of his time
Not in the same rhyme with other guys
He was uncommonly wise
He knew the answer, that time's a dancer
He knew you can't back up the moment
And take it with you, on the road, 
So now is the time, yeah...


Recordings exist by Carmen McRae (1990), Kate McGarry, Kristin Korb, Karrin Allyson, Andy Bey, Jamie Davis, etc.

*Alternative lyric set by Ben Sidran ("You Better look out, you better look where you leap")
*Alternative lyric set by Gene McDaniels ("I went to a bar, I didn't have to go far")
*Alternative lyric set by Leon Thomas (see: 'Straight No Chaser')