From “Show of Wonders”, 1916.
Words and music by James Brockman and Jack Smith.
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:
Lyrics
1. Last night in dreams I could plainly see
The land of Honolulu far across the sea
I was on the beach at Waikiki
When a million ukuleles started chasing me
Bing Bing, that’s the sound that’s haunting me
Bing Bing, the ukulele melody
Chorus:
That’s the ghost, that’s the ghost
That’s the ghost of the Ukulele, strumming gayly
How they sway when they play
On the gay little ukulele, playing daily
First it makes you sad, then it makes you glad
Take it away I say, take it away I say
Take it away ’cause it’s driving me mad
That’s the ghost, that’s the ghost
That’s the ghost of the ukulele, hear it daily
No matter where I go it follows me
There it is, there it is, there it is
My dignity I’ve tried to keep
But I did the hula hula in my sleep
From the ghost of the ukulele melody
2. When I awoke I was full of fright
From hearing ukulele music played all night
I locked the door, turned out the light
Crawled back into my bed and hid right out of sight
Bing Bing, there’s that melody again
Bing Bing, that sneaky creepy funny strain