A popular song from 1922.
Words and music by Fred Fisher.
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:
Lyrics
- I’m hot on the trail of a thief
Who jumped his bail
He’s slick, he’s quick as he can be
He’s here, he’s there
He’s ev’rywhere
Good people, listen to me
Chorus
Have you heard the thief
He will steal in your heart
Have you heard the thief
He is clever and smart
Sh! I can hear him mumbling
Listen, it sounds like “Stumbling”
Grab him, just nab him
For he’s the very fellow who stole “Dardanella”
He steals words or music old and new
He’s a bird, he’s got a record too
Of the band he’s chief
And just to be brief
I framed him and named him The Thief
- Faust, ev’ryone knows from it
You stole “Broadway Rose”
From “Chopin’s” waltz “Chasing Rainbows”
For “Dardanella” you stole the bass
You steal, you do not compose
Sung here by Fred Feild: