I did a two-step, quick-step and a bossa nova
A little Victor Sylvester, and a Rudy Valentino
You should a seen me movin’, right across the floor
Hand me down my tuxedo, next week I’m comin’ back for more
If you’re blue and you don’t know where to go to
Why don’t you go where fashion sits
Puttin’ on the Ritz
Different types of wear all day coat pants
With stripes and cut away coats for perfect fits
Puttin’ on the Ritz
Throw out your hands
Stick out your tush
Hands on your hips
Give them a push
You’ll be surprised you’re doing the French mistake!
Puerto Rico,
You lovely island . . .
Island of tropical breezes.
Always the pineapples growing,
Always the coffee blossoms blowing . . .
Puerto Rico . . .
You ugly island . . .
Island of tropic diseases.
Always the hurricanes blowing,
Always the population growing . . .
And the money owing,
And the babies crying,
And the bullets flying.
I like the island Manhattan.
Smoke on your pipe and put that in!
I like to be in America!
O.K. by me in America!
Ev’rything free in America
For a small fee in America!
On the boats and on the planes,
They’re coming to America.
Never looking back again,
They’re coming to America.
Trains, and boats, and planes,
Are passing by.
They mean a trip to Paris or Rome
For someone else,
But not for me.
The trains and the boats and planes
Took you away, away from me.
-“BB”-
They’re writing songs of love
But not for me
A lucky star’s above
But not for me
With love to lead the way
I found more clouds of gray
Than any Russian play
Could guarantee
There lived a certain man, in Russia long ago,
He was big and strong, in his eyes a flaming glow.
Most people looked at him with terror and with fear,
But to Moscow chicks he was such a lovely dear.
He could preach the Bible like a preacher,
Full of ecstasy and fire.
But he also was the kind of teacher,
Women would desire.
Mother’s son, freedom’s overdue
Lonely man, he thinks of you
He isn’t done, only lives for you
Mother Russia, can’t you hear him too?
Punished for his written thoughts
Starving for his fame
Working blindly, building blocks
Number for a name
His blood flows frozen to the snow
I’m just a lonely boy,
Lonely and blue,
I’m all alone,
With nothin’ to do.
I’ve got everything,
You could think of,
But all I want,
Is someone to love.
I’m a boy, I’m a boy
But my ma won’t admit it
I’m a boy, I’m a boy, I’m a boy
I’m a boy, I’m a boy, I’m a boy, I’m a boy
I’m a boy, I’m a boy, I’m a boy
Soldier boy,
Oh my little soldier boy,
I’ll be true to you.
-“BB”-
Now I’m a soldier, a lonely soldier
Away from home through no wish of my own
That’s why I’m lonely, I’m Mr. Lonely
I wish that I could go back home
I’m sending you a letter
Because I don’t think there’s much time
Time to clear the cobwebs
Time to bear the crime
It’s only a number
It’s only a death
Another soldier died in action
The telegram regrets
Gimme a ticket for an aeroplane,
Ain’t got time to take a fast train,
Lonely days are gone, I’m-a goin’ home,
Oh, my baby, just-a wrote me a letter.
She’s got a ticket to ride
She’s got a ticket to ride
She’s got a ticket to ride
But she don’t care…
She’ll have no crap games with sharpies and frauds
And she won’t go to Harlem in Lincolns or Fords
And she won’t dish the dirt with the rest of the broads
That’s why the lady is a tramp
She’d love the free, fresh wind in her hair
Life without care
She’s broke, but it’s ok
There’s a girl I used to know
Her face is her fortune
She’s got a heart of gold
She never goes out much
But boy, when she does then you know
She’s got no money, well, maybe a dime
But she knows what she’s worth
And that’s reason why
She’s gonna make it
And my conductress on the number nineteen
She was a honey
Pink toenails and hands all dirty with money
Greasy hair easy smile
Made me feel nineteen for a while