a 1922 popular song
words by Leo Wood
music by Ted Lewis and Ray Lopez
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:
Accompaniment – player piano roll Simplex #4224:
Lyrics
- Oh dear, oh dear, what is that I hear?
Oh dear, oh dear, ringing in my ear
It’s just a new tune and I know
You’re goin’ to love it and want more of it
Oh dear, oh dear, with its rhythm queer
Oh dear, oh dear, mighty soon I fear
I’ll be completely in the air
Because I hear it everywhere
Chorus
It’s the Bees Knees, and just take it from me
There’s one thing I want to say
You’re going to hear it night and day
In almost every way
It’s always Bees Knees when the violin man
Just makes up his mind to please
And when he starts to play
That’s when you’ll say
“It’s sure the old Bees Knees”
- You sigh, you sigh, and you wonder why
You try, you try, but you can’t deny
That it’s the tune makes you that way
Tho’ you don’t know it, you surely show it
And when, and when, it is ended then
You cry, you cry, “play it once again”
The more you hear that melody
You surely will agree with me
Patter
When you start a-stepping you’ll understand
Very soon how this tune goes
For you’ll get a feelin’ that’s simply grand
Right from your head to your toes
For this syncopated tune will make you sure forget
Your sorrows and all other cares
Without showing you’re knowin’ you’re goin’ at all
You’re climbing the golden stairs
Sung here by Fred Feild: