The theme song for “ZIEGFELD FOLLIES OF 1919”.
Words and Music by Irving Berlin.
Cover Art by Henry Cline.
Later used in M-G-M’s 1936 “The Great Ziegfeld.”
Used in “ALEXANDER’S RAGTIME BAND,” 1938 film.
Used in “BLUE SKIES,” 1946 film,
Used in “THERE’S NO BUSINESS LIKE SHOW BUSINESS,” 1954 film.
Copyright ©26 Jun 1919.
Sheet Music from the collection of Michael Deatz,
This beautiful walking piece was played while the Ziegfeld girls modeled. I have slowed it down because they sometimes went up and down stairways that had been constructed for them on the stage. They wore expensive clothes and often had elaborate headdresses to balance.
The sheet music:
The sheet music (“The Great Ziegfeld” cover image only, 1936):
Accompaniment track:
Lyrics
I have an ear for music
And I have an eye for a maid
I link a pretty girlie
With each pretty tune that’s played
They go together, like sunny weather
Goes with the month of May
I’ve studied girls and music
So I’m qualified to say
Refrain:
A pretty girl is like a melody
That haunts you night and day
Just like the strain of a haunting refrain
She’ll start upon a marathon
And run around your brain
You can’t escape, she’s in your memory
By morning night and noon
She will leave you and then come back again
A pretty girl is just like a pretty tune
Sung here by Fred Feild: