Without my walking stick, I'd go insane
I can't look my best, I feel undressed without my cane
Must have my walking stick 'cause it may rain
When it pours, can't be outdoors without my cane
If I ever left my house without my walking stick
Well, it would be something I could never explain
Oh, the thing that makes me click on lover's lane
Would go for naught if I were caught without my cane
Be, bop, bop, de, la, dum, be, bop, a, da, bum
Re, bop, be, a, rop, a, de, bop
Rump, a, de, dum, ra, da, da, de
Re, bop, bop, la, da, dum, re, bop, be, de, a
Rop, a, de, bum, rop, a, de, bum
Deet, de, de, a, ra, da, da, dum
If I ever left my house without my walking stick
Well, it would be something I could never explain
Oh, the thing that makes me click on lovers lane
Would go for naught if I were caught without my cane
Louis had served his time learning his craft working in a resident band on a steam powered paddleship up and down the Mississippi .
Imagine this song in the context of a bar band on a Hamburg to Amsterdam ferry Or Steely Dan .
The Ellington tune Satin Doll might refer to gin - which was illegal during the Prohibition , but I suspect Louis was just singing a pop song about 'caine here.