From the 1931 film “Palmy Days”
Words by Ballard MacDonald and Dave Silverstein
Music by Con Conrad
The sheet music:
Lyrics
Nowadays the average maiden
Is extremely overladen
With what known as adipose issue
To retain that normal svelte line
In the region of your belt-line
Is now a national issue
Dieticians and physicians favor this and
But there’s only one sure way of losing that fat
Refrain:
You gotta bend down, sister
Bend down, sister
If you want to keep thin
No more messing with French dressing
Sister, bear it and grin
You can flirt with noodle soup
Sniff, but don’t give in
You gotta bend down, sister
Bend down, sister
If you want to keep thin
Refrain:
You gotta bend down, sister
Bend down, sister
If you want to keep thin
Throw your strudels to the poodles
Sister, bear it and grin
Every mouthful that you eat
Adds another chin
You gotta bend down, sister
Bend down, sister
If you want to keep thin