From the musical “WATCH YOUR STEP,” 1914.
Words and Music by Irving Berlin.
Published as part of the Piano-Vocal Score ©27 Jan 1915.
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:
Lyrics
- My parents weren’t wealthy
I had to go to work
For years I earned a salary
Working as a lawyers clerk
My wife said, “Get a million dollars quick
And don’t you fail”
I didn’t want to rob a bank
And serve a year in jail
Chorus:
So I became a dancing teacher
And the very next day
A class of eighty three
Were paying me a fee
And every one of them
Were better dancers than me
I used to ride in crosstown trolleys
Every day with my “Frau”
But now I know how it feels
To ride in automobiles
For I’m a dancing teacher now
- When I was told I had to sing
This ditty in the show
I sang it over to a friend
To see how it would go
I asked him if he didn’t think
The song was very nice
He said, “I only thank you
For your very good advice”
Chorus:
And now my friend’s a dancing teacher
With a class of his own
I told him what they pay
He started in next day
He’s cutting prices now
To steal my pupils away
The twelve young fellows in this chorus
Have been raising a row
They own their own motor cars
And want to dress with the “stars”
Because they’re dancing teachers now
Sung by Laurence Rubenstein: