She Knows Her Onions

A popular song from 1926.
Words and music by Jack Yellen, Milton Ager, and Lew Pollack.
Song suggested by Laurence Rubenstein.


The sheet music:


Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:


Lyrics

  1. “Just been down to New York town,” said Hezekiah Green
    “Betcha can’t guess who I ran into on the avenue
    You know Sal, the Perkins gal who was the village queen?
    Boys, I’m here to tell, the gal’s done mighty well

Chorus
She’s got this and she’s got that
She knows her onions
A Packard car and ten room flat
She knows her onions
She’s just a farmer’s daughter brought up in I-o-way
But father never taught her the things she knows today
She knows her Spanish onions
She knows her baby talk
She hasn’t any bunions
She don’t get out and walk
(A – – h!)
She’s got mink and sable fur
She’s the blonde that men prefer
Just a gal who knows her onions

  1. Well by gun, they called her dumb back in the village school
    They said she was thick in geography and arithmetic
    You should see her jewelry, you’d know that she’s no fool
    Knows a thing or two her teacher never knew

Chorus
She’s got diamonds in her ears
She knows her onions
You ought to see her lavallieres
She knows her onions
This simple country maiden from fields of new mown hay
You should see her paradin’ along the gay white way
She stays out after ‘leven
Right in the city whirl
‘Cause she believes that heaven
Protects the working girl
(A – – h!)
She knows when and where to go
When to “yes” and when to “no”
She’s a gal who knows her onions


Sung here by Fred Feild: