BEAUTIFUL QUEEN OF THE NILE
>From the Broadway Revue "Cheer Up" (1917)
(Music: Raymond Hubbell / Lyrics: John L. Golden)


Ford Dabney's Band - 1917


The sphinx has been silent for thousands of years
And guarded the secrets of Egypt right well
But if it would speak, what stories of tears
And tales of sweet love it could tell

For here in its shadow, a wondrous love came
A soldier and siren, a tent for their home
The queen of the Nile, Cleopatra her name
And Anthony, bravest of Rome

He sued her and wooed her o'er desert and ocean
And this was his song of devotion...

Queen of the Nile
You've made my life well worthwhile
Somehow, some way, some time and some day
I'll pray that I'll win your smile

For my crown I gave
To be your own humble slave
Here, dear, with you on this isle
My beautiful Queen of the Nile

When Antony came with his thousands of men
To Egypt to rule them, a conqueror brave
The Siren, she woo'd and subdued him and then
The conqueror soon was her slave

And he who had ruled over Caesar himself
For fair Cleopatra was lowly and mean
Gave up claim for fame, for power or pelf
To love and be loved by his Queen

And swains of today sing the same old love story
That Antony sang in his glory...

Queen of the Nile
You've made my life well worthwhile
Somehow, some way, some time and some day
I'll pray that I'll win your smile

For my crown I gave
To be your own humble slave
Here dear with you on this isle
My beautiful Queen of the Nile



(Transcribed by Mel Priddle - March 2016)