From the 1943 film “Good News”
Words and music by Roger Edens, Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane
The sheet music:
Lyrics
A medicine man I met
Said, “Don’t get yourself in a sweat
When things look gray, just shrug an’ say
It must’ve been somep’n I et
So don’t get yourself in a snit,” he said
“Tuck your tantrums into your kit instead
It’s disarming to be charming”
Quoth the medicine man
When all agree, it’s plain to see
Nobody could be wiser than, so
Refrain:
If your temper’s gettin’ the top hand
All ya gotta do is just stop and
Pass that peace pipe an’ bury that hatchet
Like the Choctaws, Chick-a-saws
Chattahoochies, Chippewas do
If you’re feelin’ mad as a wet hen
Mad as you can possibly get, then
Pass that peace pipe an’ bury that tomahawk
Like those Chichimec’s, Cherokees, Chepultepecs, too
Don’t be cranky, try to use a little restraint
Fold that hanky, an’ wipe off all-a-that warpaint
And if you find yourself in a fury
Be your own judge and your own jury
Pass that peace pipe an’ bury that hatchet
Like the Choctaws, Chick-a-saws
Chattahoochies, Chippewas do
Refrain:
If you wanna hover out west, too
You will soon discover it’s best to
Pass the peace pipe an’ bury that hatchet
Like the Chocho’s, Chango’s
Chattanoogas, Cheecarows do
Even in Colonial days
You knew the ceremonial ways
To pass that peace pipe an’ bury that tomahawk
Like those Chi-cu-ti-mees
Che-pe-chets and Chicapees, too
Pull you ears in, try to use a little control
When all clear’s in
You’ll be top man on the totem pole
So if you wanna be an alright guy
Not a long-faced “Blues in the Night” guy
Write that apology and dispatch it
When you’ve quarreled, it’s grand to patch it
Pass that peace pipe an’ bury that hatchet
Like the Choctaws, Chickasaws
Chattahoochies, Chippewas
And those Chichimees, Cherokees, Che-pul-tepecs
And those Chi-cu-ti-mees, Che-pe-chets
And Chicapees, Chocho’s, Chango’s
Chattanoogas, Cheecarows do