A popular song from 1922.
Words and music by Sam Marley and Billy Heagney.
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:
Lyrics
- In a big tobacco factory-ee
Sophie’s work was not satisfactory-ee
For instead of rolling Trophies
All the time was spent of Sophie’s
At the Dance Egyptian you will see-ee
Each Oriental twist
She could simply not resist
So one fine day she sailed away
And I’m here to whisper this
Chorus
She “gypped” ev’rybody down in Egypt
When she landed there she had
Those natives beat a mile for style
When she did the simplest movement
It showed improvement of those on the Nile, while
They paid heavy dough whenever she played
Ev’ry time she wiggled
All the Bohunks wore a smile
Poor Sophie’s hand for the coin was itchin’
She took ’em all like Grant took Richmond
She “gypped” Egypt on the Nile
- From the land of Pyramids she’s sailing
And a lot of postal cards she’s mailing
Her name’s now Queen Borealis
She’ll play three weeks at the Palace
With her maids and fourteen yards of veiling
Press agents will declare
“She is right from Over There
But all the hicks from Fact’ry Six
Who worked with her declare
Chorus
She “gypped” ev’rybody down in Egypt
By the pyramid she claimed relation to the Sphinx, that minx
Her stage door was lined with princes
She won those quinces with her naughty winks-ginks
Their gifts piled up higher than the sand drifts
Sophie wore a string of Di’monds and a roguish smile
The never knew that she learned that firty
Dance from an East Side hurdy gurdy
She “gypped” Egypt on the Nile
Chorus
She “gypped” ev’rybody down in Egypt
By the pyramid she claimed relation to the Sphinx, that minx
Her stage door was lined with princes
She won those quinces with her naughty winks-ginks
Their gifts piled up higher than the sand drifts
Sophie wore a string of Di’monds and a roguish smile
Now in her Stutz as she rolls ’round gaily
She thinks of butts that she once rolled daily
She “gypped” Egypt on the Nile
Sung here by Fred Feild: