MY CANARY HAS CIRCLES UNDER HIS EYES
(Ted Kohler / Eddie Pola / Jack Golden)
Debroy Somers Band (vocal: Dan Donovan) - 1931
Sophie Tucker (with Ted Shapiro & His Orch.) - 1931
Marion Harris (with Billy Mason & His Café de Paris Band) - 1931
Elsie Carlisle - 1931
Al Bowlly with The Waldorfians - 1931
Lawrence Welk's Novelty Orch. - 1931
Karl Denver - 1963
Derek Brimstone - 1968
Captain Matchbox Whoopee Band - 1972
George Melly (with John Chilton's Footwarmers) - 1976
Also recorded by:
Don Neely's Royal Society Jazz Orch.
The Royal Pasadena Roof Orchestra.
As recorded by DAN DONOVAN with DEBROY SOMERS BAND:
Since making whoopee became all the rage
It's even got to the old birdcage
And my canary has circles under his eyes
He used to whistle 'The Prisoner's Song'
Now he does snake-hips the whole day long
My poor canary has circles under his eyes
His only pals are the Yellow Lark**
And just a tiny sparrow
But I am scared when he's in the park
He leaves the straight and narrow
I've raised this birdie in a manners so strict
Yet I've a feeling I'm being tricked
'Cause my canary has circles under his eyes
**Sometimes sung as Meadowlark
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As recorded by SOPHIE TUCKER:
Mister Press Man, here's some news
You can print it if you choose
Just to prove that times have changed a lot
Though it may sound strange to you
It is absolutely true
You can believe it or not
Since making whoopee became all the rage
It's even got to the old birdcage
And my canary has circles under his eyes
I thought he'd never do anything wrong
Now he does snake-hips the whole day long
My canary has circles under his eyes
His only pals are the Yellow Lark
And just a tiny sparrow
But I am afraid when he's in the park
He leaves the straight and narrow
I've raised this bird in a manner so strict
Yet I've got a feeling I'm being tricked
'Cause my canary has circles under his eyes
And he hasn't any girlfriends, that I'm certain of
But he sings, "What is this thing called love"
Since my canary has circles under his eyes
Birds of a feather the old story goes
But love is something that nobody knows
My poor canary has circles under his eyes
Perhaps he's worried, the poor little lamb
He always looks so solemn
I wonder if he's in a jam
I'll have to look up Mister Swaffer's column
He's never cheerful, he's lost all his dash
Must have been caught in the Wall Street Crash
'Cause my canary has circles under his eyes
Hah-huh, when I observe him, it's making me think
He may be taking to dope or drink
'Cause my canary has circles under his eyes
Maybe he's got secrets, sorrow or strife
Maybe he's leading a double life
Hah-hah, 'cause my canary has circles under his eyes
I can't imagine him going wrong
Or doing something shady
Perhaps he's just worn out through singing songs
To some canary lady
I've fed him birdseed, but now it denotes
That birdseed must have been wild, wild oats
'Cause my canary has circles under his eyes
********************
As recorded by ELSIE CARLISLE:
All this world is up to date
Even children stay up late
Things are not just what they ujsed to be
All this world is off its nut
Going crazy, nothing but
Just get this earful from me
Since making whoopee became all the rage
It's even got to the old birdcage
And my canary has circles under his eyes
He used to whistle 'The Prisoner's Song'
Now he does snake-hips the whole night long
My poor canary has circles under his eyes
Now, there was a time he was satisfied
To flit among the flowers
But now when I let him out, he'll hide
Up in a tree for hours
Instead of taking a much needed rest
He's flying out to some sparrow's nest
My canary has circles under his eyes
He has no girlfriend, that I'm certain of
But he sings "What is this thing called love"
My canary has circles under his eyes
Birds of a feather the old story goes
But love is something nobody knows
My poor canary has circles under his eyes
Now, maybe he's worried, the little lamb
He always looks so solemn
I wonder if he is in a jam
I'll look in Swaffer's column
He won't eat his birdseed, it's really a sin
He won't sing a thing without his drop of gin
My canary has circles under his eyes
********************
Alternate opening verses as recorded by MARION HARRIS:
This old world is slipping fast
How much longer can we last
Have we gone completely off our dome
With this modernistic stuff
I'm through, I've had enough
I'm so worried now since it hit home
Since making whoopee became all the rage
It's even got into the old birdcage
etc.... (as Elsie Carlisle version)
*********************
(Transcriptions by Mel Priddle - December 2012)
