A 1924 Popular Song. [unpublished].
Words and Music by Irving Berlin.
B&W Professional Copy.
Copyright ©3 Jan 1924.
Sheet Music from the collection of Michael Deatz.
The sheet music.
Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:
Lyrics:
Out in the street hear that beat of a drum—
It’s twelve o’clock and the New Year has come;
Just hear them yell as they welcome the news!
I should be glad but I’m not, ’cause I’m sad,
’Cause I’ve got the Happy New Year Blues.
The very first of each January keeps getting worse,
’Cause I have to carry one more year
With nobody near who feels just the same as I.
A wedding ring, a sweet bridal bouquet,
And ev’rything, I know, would be OK,
But each day it’s further away,
And my, how the time does fly!
Counting the days until
Someone gives me their sympathy,
Hoping to get a thrill
From one who’ll get a thrill from me,
Year after year I grow older;
Soon they all will be gone—
Going through life with no shoulder
To lay my head upon.
Out in the street the crowd walking,
Shouting a hip hurray,
Filling the night with loud talking;
I seem to hear them say:
“Here comes old Father Time
Bringing plenty of happy news.”
Ev’ryone’s glad while I’m singing
The Happy New Year Blues.
“Ring out the old year and ring in the new”
Means nothing to someone who feels so blue.
There goes my phone, but it’s not happy news;
Central is ringing my phone just to wish me
A very Happy New Year Blues.