Writing for Vaudeville Part 33

Come on and hear, come on and hear Alexander's ragtime band, Come on and hear, come on and hear, It's the best band in the land, They can play a bugle call like you never heard before, So natural that you want to go to war; That's just the bestest band what am, honey lamb, Come on along, come on along, Let me take you by the hand, Up to the man, up to the man, who's the leader of the band, And if you care to hear the Swanee River played in ragtime, Come on and hear, come on and hear Alexander's ragtime Band.

Oh, ma honey, oh, ma honey, There's a fiddle with notes that screeches, Like a chicken, like a chicken, And the clarinet is a colored pet, Come and listen, come and listen, To a cla.s.sical band what's peaches, come now, somehow, Better hurry along.

THE TRAIL OF THE LONESOME PINE

Words by Music by BALLARD MACDONALD HARRY CARROLL

On a mountain in Virginia stands a lonesome pine, Just below is the cabin home, of a little girl of mine, Her name is June, And very very soon, She'll belong to me, For I know she's waiting there for me, 'Neath that old pine tree.

REFRAIN

In the Blue Ridge mountains of Virginia, On the trail of the lonesome pine, In the pale moons.h.i.+ne our hearts entwine, Where she carved her name and I carved mine, Oh, June, like the mountains I'm blue, Like the pine, I am lonesome for you, In the Blue Ridge mountains of Virginia, On the trail of the lonesome pine.

I can hear the tinkling water-fall far among the hills, Bluebirds sing each so merrily, to his mate rapture thrills, They seem to say, Your June is lonesome too.

Longing fills her eyes, She is waiting for you patiently, Where the pine tree sighs.

WHEN THE BELL IN THE LIGHTHOUSE RINGS DING DONG

Lyric by Music by ARTHUR J. LAMB ALFRED SOLMAN

Just a glance in your eyes, my bonnie Kate, Then over the sea go I, While the sea-gulls circle around the s.h.i.+p, And the billowy waves roll high.

And over the sea and away, my Kate, Afar to the distant West; But ever and ever a thought I'll have, For the la.s.sie who loves me best.

REFRAIN

When the bell in the lighthouse rings ding, dong, When it clangs with its warning loud and long, Then a sailor will think of his sweetheart so true, And long for the day he'll come back to you; And his love will be told in the bell's brave song When the bell in the lighthouse rings ding, dong, Ding! Dong! Ding! Dong!

When the bell in the lighthouse rings Ding! Dong! Ding! Dong!

For a day is to come, my bonnie Kate, When joy in our hearts shall reign And we'll laugh to think of the dangers past, When you rest in my arms again.

For back to your heart I will sail, my Kate, With love that is staunch and true; In storm or in calm there's a star of hope, That's always to s.h.i.+ne for you.

SWEET ITALIAN LOVE

Words by Music by IRVING BERLIN TED SNYDER

Everyone talk-a how they make-a da love Call-a da sweet name like-a da dove, It makes me sick when they start in to speak-a Bout the moon way up above.

What's-a da use to have-a big-a da moon?

What's the use to call-a da dove If he no like-a she, and she no like-a he, The moon can't make them love. But,

CHORUS

Sweet Italian love, Nice Italian love,

You don't need the moon-a-light your love to tell her, In da house or on da roof or in da cellar, Dat's Italian love, Sweet Italian love; When you kiss-a your pet, And it's-a like-a spagette, Dat's Italian love.

Ev'ryone say they like da moon-a da light, There's one-a man up in da moon all-a right, But he no tell-a that some other nice feller Was-a kiss your gal last night.

Maybe you give your gal da wedding-a ring, Maybe you marry, like-a me Maybe you love your wife, maybe for all your life, But dat's only maybe. But,

CHORUS

Sweet Italian love, Nice Italian love, When you squeeze your gal and she no say, "Please stop-a!"

When you got dat twenty kids what call you "Papa!"

Dat's Italian love, Sweet Italian love; When you kiss one-a time, And it's-a feel like-a mine, Dat's Italian love!

OH HOW THAT GERMAN COULD LOVE

Words by Music by IRVING BERLIN TED SNYDER

Once I got stuck on a sweet little German, And oh what a German was she, The best what was walking, well, what's the use talking, Was just made to order for me.

So lovely and witty; more yet, she was pretty, You don't know until you have tried.

She had such a figure, it couldn't be bigger, And there was some one yet beside.

CHORUS

Oh how that German could love, With a feeling that came from the heart, She called me her honey, her angel, her money, She pushed every word out so smart.

She spoke like a speaker, and oh what a speech, Like no other speaker could speak; Ach my, what a German when she kissed her Herman, It stayed on my cheek for a week.

This girl I could squeeze, and it never would hurt, For that lady knew how to squeeze; Her loving was killing, more yet, she was willing, You never would have to say please.

I just couldn't stop her, for dinner and supper, Some dishes and hugs was the food; When she wasn't nice it was more better twice; When she's bad she was better than good.

Sometimes we'd love for a week at a time, And it only would seem like a day; How well I remember, one night in December, I felt like the middle of May.

I'll bet all I'm worth, that when she came on earth, All the angels went out on parade; No other one turned up, I think that they burned up The pattern from which she was made.

WHEN IT STRIKES HOME

Words and Music by CHARLES K. HARRIS

You sit at home and calmly read your paper, Which tells of thousands fighting day by day, Of homeless babes and girls who've lost their sweet-hearts, But to your mind it all seems far away.

REFRAIN

When it strikes home, gone is the laughter, When it strikes home your heart's forlorn, When it strikes home the tears fall faster, For those dear ones who've pa.s.sed and gone.

And when you hear of brave boys dying, You may not care, they're not your own; But just suppose you lost your loved ones, That is the time when it strikes home.

Out on the street, a newsboy crying "Extra,"

Another s.h.i.+p has gone down, they say; 'Tis then you kiss your wife and little daughter, Give heartfelt thanks that they are safe today.

MY LITTLE DREAM GIRL

Words by Music by L. WOLFE GILBERT ANATOL FRIEDLAND

The night time, the night time is calling me, It's dream-time, sweet dream-time, for you and me.

I'm longing, I'm longing to close my eyes, For there a sweet vision lies.

REFRAIN