Muskrat Ramble
Muskrat Ramble is a jazz tune written by Kid Ory in 1926. It was first recorded on February 26, 1926, by Louis Armstrong and His Hot Five and became one of the group’s most often-recorded pieces. The record was released with Armstrong’s Heebie Jeebies on the other side. The song helped popularize the Dixieland revival in the 1930s and 1940s and was later recorded by many famous players and bands, making it a jazz standard.
Who wrote it and what’s the title about? Ory said he wrote the tune in 1921, and Lil Hardin is said to have come up with the title during the 1926 session. Armstrong claimed he wrote it, while music historians suggest the tune may have two parts written by different people. Sidney Bechet linked it to an older Buddy Bolden tune. The initial release even carried a misspelling, “Muskat Ramble.”
The song was originally instrumental, but in 1950 Ray Gilbert wrote lyrics without Ory’s permission. Gilbert later argued that he deserved credit as a co-writer, and in 1956 the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers decided Gilbert should receive one-third of all performance credits for Muskrat Ramble, both vocal and instrumental.
How the tune is built. Muskrat Ramble starts with a 32-bar ensemble section, then has 16-bar solo breaks for the trombone, cornet, and clarinet. After the solos, there is another 32-bar ensemble section, ending with a short two-bar trombone tag. Ory’s ending tag is commonly played in performances, giving the piece its familiar finish.
Royalties and rediscovery. In the late 1940s, clarinetist Barney Bigard learned that Ory hadn’t received royalties because the publisher had sold the rights. Bigard helped Ory find the current publisher, and Ory received about $8,000 upfront and about $600 every quarter afterward. This turn of events changed Ory and helped him gain financial security.
Other notes and cover versions. Freddy Cannon released a pop version that reached #54 on Billboard’s Top 100 in 1961. Over the years, Muskrat Ramble was recorded by many big names in jazz and popular music, including Bob Crosby, Roy Eldridge, Lionel Hampton, Woody Herman, Muggsy Spanier, Chet Atkins, Lu Watters, the Andrews Sisters, Harry James, and Al Hirt. It is still considered a standard in jazz.
Legal dispute in the 2000s. In 2001 Babette Ory, Kid Ory’s daughter, sued Country Joe McDonald, claiming the chorus of I Feel Like I’m Fixin’ to Die Rag copied Muskrat Ramble. The case was dismissed because of laches (a long delay in bringing the suit). The Ninth Circuit upheld the ruling in 2005, and Ory was ordered to pay McDonald’s attorney’s fees.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 10:51 (CET).