From “Broadway Brevities” of 1920
Words by Grant Clarke
Music by Walter Donaldson
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:
Lyrics
- A friend of mine had some fine photographs he took,
Kept them in a book,
And let me take a look.
There were scenes of some queens down in Borneo.
First I glanced, then I danced
Then I hollered: “Oh!”
CHORUS:
I wish that I’d been born in Borneo
If half the photographs are really so.
Say, can you picture me
Beneath the pepper tree?
I’d be so peppery with all those wild women!
There’s very little clothing worn-e-o,
And no tight shoes to hurt your corn-e-o. Oh!
Give a girl a ring down there when you propose;
Then she’ll take the ring and stick it in her nose.
I’ve been wasting half my life, I know.
I wish that I’d been born in Borneo.
- The friend of mine showed his fine pictures to my dad.
Daddy wore a smile
For the longest while,
Showed a few pictures to dear old Uncle Josh.
Uncle blinked, then he winked
Then he hollered: “Gosh!”
CHORUS:
I wish that I’d been born in Borneo
If half the photographs are really so.
Say, can you picture me
Beneath the pepper tree?
I’d be so peppery with all those wild women!
There’s very little clothing worn-e-o,
And no tight shoes to hurt your corn-e-o. Oh!
You should see them when they’re dressed for Sunday school.
You would think they just came back from the swimming pool.
Every man has twenty wives or so.
I wish that I’d been born in Borneo
From Eddie Cantor’s 78 record:
…can you picture me beneath a rubber tree?
What a rubberneck I’d be among those wild women.
‘stead of being born in Kokomo,
I wish that I’d been born in Borneo.
Sung here by Laurence Rubenstein: