Released: January 1, 1961
Songwriter: Irving Mills Nat King Cole
Producer: Lee Gillette
[Verse 1]
A buzzard took a monkey for a ride in the air
The monkey thought that everything was on the square
The buzzard tried to throw the monkey off his back
The monkey grabbed his neck and said, "Now listen, Jack..."
[Chorus]
Straighten up and fly right
Straighten up and stay right
Straighten up and fly right
Cool down, papa
Don't you blow your top
Ain't no use in diving
What's the use in jiving?
Straighten up and fly right
Cool down, papa
Don't you blow your top
[Verse 2]
The buzzard told the monkey you are choking me
Release your hold and I'll set you free
The monkey looked the buzzard right dead in the eye and said
"Your story's so touching, but it sounds just like a lie."
[Chorus]
Straighten up and fly right
Straighten up and stay right
Straighten up and fly right
Cool down, papa
Don't you blow your top
Ain't no use in diving
What's the use in jiving?
Straighten up and fly right
Cool down, papa
Don't you blow your top
[Instrumental Bridge]
[Outro]
Straighten up and fly right
Straighten up and stay right
Straighten up and fly right
Cool down, papa
Don't you blow your top
Ain't no use in diving
What's the use in jiving?
Straighten up and fly right
Cool down, papa
Don't you blow your top
A buzzard took a monkey for a ride in the air
The monkey thought that everything was on the square
The buzzard tried to throw the monkey off his back
The monkey grabbed his neck and said, "Now listen, Jack..."
[Chorus]
Straighten up and fly right
Straighten up and stay right
Straighten up and fly right
Cool down, papa
Don't you blow your top
Ain't no use in diving
What's the use in jiving?
Straighten up and fly right
Cool down, papa
Don't you blow your top
[Verse 2]
The buzzard told the monkey you are choking me
Release your hold and I'll set you free
The monkey looked the buzzard right dead in the eye and said
"Your story's so touching, but it sounds just like a lie."
[Chorus]
Straighten up and fly right
Straighten up and stay right
Straighten up and fly right
Cool down, papa
Don't you blow your top
Ain't no use in diving
What's the use in jiving?
Straighten up and fly right
Cool down, papa
Don't you blow your top
[Instrumental Bridge]
[Outro]
Straighten up and fly right
Straighten up and stay right
Straighten up and fly right
Cool down, papa
Don't you blow your top
Ain't no use in diving
What's the use in jiving?
Straighten up and fly right
Cool down, papa
Don't you blow your top
more tracks from the album
The Nat King Cole Story
- The Christmas Song
- Non Dimenticar
- Walking My Baby Back Home
- Lush Life
- The Sand and the Sea
- I Am in Love
- Stardust
- Paradise
- Pretend
- Calypso Blues (feat. Stephen & Damian Marley)
- To the Ends of the Earth
- Orange Colored Sky
- Somewhere Along the Way
- Blue Gardenia
- Darling Je Vous Aime Beaucoup
- Send for Me
- It’s Only a Paper Moon
- Night Lights
- Ay, Cosita Linda
- Nature Boy
- Unforgettable
- Smile
- St. Louis Blues
- Straighten Up and Fly Right
- (I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons
- Looking Back
- If I May
- Wild Is Love
- Too Young
- Answer Me My Love
- Sweet Lorraine
- A Blossom Fell
- Mona Lisa
- Oh Mary, Don’t You Weep
- Ballerina
- (Get Your Kicks On) Route 66 [1961 Version]
From the album
- The Nat King Cole Story (1961)
Nat “King” Cole popular songs
- L-O-V-E
- Smile
- Unforgettable
- Daisy Bell (Bicycle Built for Two)
- Nature Boy
- The Christmas Song
- Mona Lisa
- Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire
- When I Fall In Love
- Orange Colored Sky
- (Get Your Kicks On) Route 66 [1946 Version]
- Stardust
- Too Young
- Straighten Up and Fly Right
- That’s All
- Let There Be Love
- On a Bicycle Built for Two
- Fascination
- The Very Thought of You
- Those Lazy, Hazy, Crazy Days of Summer
- Autumn Leaves
- O Tannenbaum
- Pretend
- (I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons