There's a Harlem band way down in San Domingo
A very talented group
They kicked them off of a sloop
Even though the band can't understand their lingo
They're never down in the dumps
´Cause when the drummer boy thumps
The Rhumba jumps!

"Hep hep", they hollered
The moment they landed,
"We've got a Rhumba the king once commanded!"
Then they passed the gin
And started in to play
The way they learned to play
Back in the USA!

Now they're on the air in San Domingo
Slappin' it up,
And the dudes declare those Harlem boys are
Wrappin' it up
Folks in every land tune in on San Domingo
They're never down in the dumps
´Cause when the drummer boy thumps
The Rhumba jumps!

"Hep hep", they hollered,
"Stay right in your villa,
We're all the Admiral's brand of vanilla,
If you wanna dance
And wanna dance in style
You better turn your dial
To San Domingo Isle
And when you hear "Ay-ay, hi-dee-ay-ay"
You know the reason why
The Rhumba jumps!"

(Whistlewhistlewhistle)
(Dialogue between Marion Hutton and Tex Beneke):

Marion Hutton:
Hello there, Texas, whatcha say?
Whatcha doin' back here in the USA?

Tex Beneke:
Well, Santo Domingo just wouldn't let me be
So I ran out on my visa ´fore it ran out on me
But when I ran I was no chump
I shanghaied the drummer
The guy that made the Rhumba jump!