A popular song from 1917.
Words by Al. Dubin.
Music by Joseph A. Burke.
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:
Lyrics
1. A fancy clothing cutter, Abie Perimutter
Heard a song called “Butterfly”
It was such a riot, Abie thought he’d buy it
He cared for a dime as much as his right eye
He tried to buy, a copy in the Ten Cent Store
He found that “Butterfly” would cost him twenty more
He said, “I don’t need a Japanese Poor Butterfly
I know such a rich one and to her I can sigh”
REFRAIN
Flutter, flutter, flutter ’round your Abie Perimutter
Oi, my Yiddisha Butterfly
Ask your Fadder and your Mudder if they want a closing cutter
In the family by and by
We will go on our honeymoon to Kike-ki-kee
Far away in “How are you” by the Baltic Sea
And we’ll raise a “Kisher” family
My Yiddisha Butterfly
2. Now Abe was sentimental, kind of tempramental
He liked Oriental things
He said You should own a Japanese Kimona
You’d look like a Butterfly without no wings
You’d look like Geraldine Farrar and that’s no lie
Just like she looks when she plays “Madame Butterfly”
Hang some lanterns in the parlor of your Fadder’s home
So that I can sing to you when we are alone
REFRAIN
Flutter, flutter, flutter ’round your Abie Perimutter
Oi, my Yiddisha Butterfly
Ask your Fadder and your Mudder if they want a closing cutter
In the family by and by
They are calling for soldiers, I should go I guess
But they don’t want the married men, come on, say “Yes”
Would they miss one soldier more or less
My Yiddisha Butterfly
REFRAIN
Flutter, flutter, flutter ’round your Abie Perimutter
Oi, my Yiddisha Butterfly
Ask your Fadder and your Mudder if they want a closing cutter
In the family by and by
You’re a beautiful girl and if I thought you’re not
I would love you the same, I would love you a lot
‘Cause I know how much your Fadder’s got
My Yiddisha Butterfly