I’ve loved the writing of George and Ira Gershwin since I was a boy. My sister had the
Ella Fitzgerald Sings The George And Ira Gershwin Song Book, an incredible album set arranged by Nelson Riddle, which I think is one of the best jazz records ever made. By Strauss is one of their lesser known song but a great example of clever lyric writing nonetheless.
Away with the music of Broadway
Be off with your Irving Berlin
Oh I give no quarter to Kern or Cole Porter
And Gershwin keeps pounding on tin
How can I be civil when hearing this drivel
It’s only for nightclubbing souses
Oh give me the free ‘n’ easy waltz that is Viennesey
And go tell the band if they want a hand
The waltz must be Strauss’
Ya, ya ya, give me oom-pa-pah
When I want a melody
Lilting through the house
Then I want a melody
By Strauss
It laughs, it sings, the world is in rhyme
Swinging to three-quarter time
Keep the wine and give me song
By Strauss
By Jove, by Jing, by Strauss is the thing
So I say to ha-cha-cha, heraus!
Just give me your oom-pa-pah, by Strauss!
Notice the witty rhymes
How can I be civil when hearing this drivel
internal rhymes
I give no quarter to Kern or Cole Porter
give me the free ‘n’ easy waltz that is Viennesey
And go tell the band if they want a hand
name checking Strauss’ music
Let the [Blue] Danube flow along and the Fledermaus
use of German
heraus [out!]
To be sure, the more comedic and lighthearted the song is the more you can get away with such self-consciously clever lyrics, but I’d love to have one-tenth of the the genius on display here.
I don’t like Strauss but I do like George and Ira Gershwin. I just listened to Ella Fitzgerald’s rendition, very impressive!
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