From the 1942 musical “THIS IS THE ARMY,” 1942.
And the 1943 movie.
Words and Music by Irving Berlin.
Cover Art by Corp. Dave Breger.
Copyright ©15 Jun 1942.
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:
Lyrics
Old Mister Absent-Minded, that’s me
Just as forgetful as I can be
I’ve got the strangest sort of a mind
I’m always leaving something behind
Chorus
I left my heart at the Stage Door Canteen
I left it there with a girl named Eileen
I kept her serving doughnuts
Till all she had were gone
I sat there dunking doughnuts
Till she caught on
I must go back to the army routine
And every doughboy knows what that will mean
A soldier boy without a heart
Has two strikes on him from the start
And my heart’s at the Stage Door Canteen
Sung here by Laurence Rubenstein: