From the musical “Something For the Boys”, 1943
Words and music by Cole Porter
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:
Lyrics
If a girl in any sector
Makes you feel like the puppy called Hector
And you’re longing to subject ‘er
To elect ‘er your wife and protect ‘er
If she’s just as sweet as nectar
But of your job she’s no respecter
Become a top band director
And you never, never will miss
Refrain:
In the old days, when a maid desired to wed
Any beau who had the dough could go ahead
But today the lad who’s sure to win her hand
Is the leader of a big-time band
Even gals who go for cowboys, quit ’em quick
When they meet some guy
Who sings and swings a stick
For of late the only date they long to land
Is the leader of a big-time band
When he begins to tilt that wand about
Dear Missus Vanderbilt bumps herself out
So, if thee would like to be in great demand
Be the leader of a big-time band
Refrain:
In the gilded age, a Wall Street millionaire
Was the answer to a working maiden’s prayer
But today she’d chuck that yearly fifty grand
For the leader of a big-time band
In the old days, when King Louie held the scene
Any Jock who had the jack could play the queen
But today who’d come and play that baby grand?
Why, the leader of a big-time band
When this new champ of champs
Goes blowin’ blue
Rum-ridden debu-tramps nearly come to
‘Cause there’s nothing, when you’re out
Like being fanned
By the leader of a big-time band
Sung by Laurence Rubenstein: