Featured in the 1905 musical “In New York Town”
words by Junie McCree
music by Albert Von Tilzer
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:
Lyrics
- From de very fust day dat I wus bo’n
I been polite
I decided to live dis life alone
And be polite
My object is to sleep and eat
To mix maself with the elite
And spend ma spare time where dey treat
And be polite
Chorus
I certainly loves good mannered fo’ks
That acts respectfully
I loves to step on someone’s feet
And they say, “Pardon me”
When I’m in trouble
And de Judge presents me sixty days
I thank him, too, and says
“The same to you”
‘Cause I am polite always
- Well, I don’t believe in working hard
It ain’t polite
For labor I got no regards
It ain’t polite
My services are in demand
But I can’t really understand
Why I should shake work by de hand
It ain’t polite
Sung here by Vancha March: