Verse 1 (A section): Down at the dancing hall the fancy folks one and all,
Assemble and give a ball on Saturday night;
Such dusky belles are there, can't equal them anywhere!
(Spoken) Um! Um! lovely sight!
Never you saw before such dancing as on that floor,
And I'll tell you what is more, without any brag;
Only my girl and me are all that you want to see,
A dancing that new Temptation Rag.

Chorus (B section): Swaying...
With the music sweetly playing...
All the time I'm gazing,
In bright eyes full of real devotion,
While showing poetry of motion;
Say, kid...
Ain't it great to dance this way, kid...
It's got me a-going,
I'm happy! Tickles me to death,
This Temptation Rag!

Verse 2 (A section): When I hear music sweet I'd just rather dance than eat,
And always my busy feet keep time to the drum;
Start kind o' lazy-like, but get kind o' crazy-like,
(Spoken) Um! Um! going some!
Feel way up in the air, with never a woe or care,
And go on a dancing tear, a sort of a jag.
'Spect that my girl and me will dance thro' eternity,
Still doing that new Temptation Rag.

Chorus (B section): Swaying...
With the music sweetly playing...
All the time I'm gazing,
In bright eyes full of real devotion,
While showing poetry of motion;
Say, kid...
Ain't it great to dance this way, kid...
It's got me a-going,
I'm happy! Tickles me to death,
This Temptation Rag!