From the 1916 musical “Stop Look Listen”
words and music by Irving Berlin
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:
Lyrics
- When I was young, my father said to me
“Learn a trade, learn a trade
Do me a favor and become an engraver
For engravers are well-paid
If I’d have done what father wanted
Imagine what I’d miss, there is no doubt
I was cut out for a life like this
Chorus
I come around to the theatre in my automobile
Singing, “This is the life, this is the life”
Surrounded by chorus ladies in the troupe
I spend all my time in a chicken coop
They come to my dressing room as cute as can be
Saying “Won’t you hook up my dress for me?”
And it makes me mad to think my dear old dad
Wanted me to learn a trade
- When I come out with lots of powder
Upon my sleeve, on my sleeve
Somebody rested on my new double-breasted
I believe you’ve got me, Steve
I always kiss the prima donna
In every we scene we act
Leave it to me, that has to be
It’s in my contract
Chorus
I leave the show ev’ry evening in my automobile
Singing, “This is the life, this is the life”
My supper consists of chicken a la King
I get indigestion and everything
A ring on my finger with a four carat stone
Twenty payments more and it’s all my own
And it makes me mad to think my dear old dad
Wanted me to learn a trade
Sung here by Laurence Rubenstein: