A Gay Caballero

A popular song from 1928.
Words and music by Frank Crumit and Lou Klein.


Sheet music provided by Nicholas Leunissen:


Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:


Lyrics

  1. I am a gay Caballero
    Coming from Rio Janiero
    With nice oily hair
    And full of hot air
    I’m an expert at shooting the bull-o
  2. I’m seeking a fair Senorita
    Not thin and yet not too much meat-a
    I’ll woo her a while
    In my Argentine style
    I’ll carry her off of her feet-a
  3. I’ll tell her I’m of the Nobillio
    And live in a great big Castillio
    I must have a miss
    Who’ll long for a kiss
    And not say oh don’t be so sillio
  4. ‘Twas at a swell caberetta
    While wining and dining I met her
    We drank one or two
    As other folks do
    The night was wet but she was wetter
  5. She told me her name was Estrella
    She said stick around me young fella
    Mosquitos they bite
    They’re awful tonight
    And you smell just like citronella
  6. I can’t forget that Senora
    While telling her how I adore her
    Asleep she did fall
    Didn’t mind that at all
    But she was a terrible snorer
  7. She was a dancer and singer
    At me she kept pointing her finger
    And saying to me
    Si Signor, Si, Si
    But I couldn’t see a durn thing-a
  8. She told me she was so lonely
    So I climbed upon her balcony
    While under her spell
    I heard someone yell
    Get away from her you big balony
  9. I swore I’d win this Senorita
    I wooed her upon the sofita
    Then her husband walked in
    What he did was a sin
    I can still hear the birds sing tweet tweet-a
  10. I am a sad caballero
    I’m now back in Rio Janiero
    Minus my hair
    A bruise here and there
    And her husband he chewed off my ear-o