BUTTONS AND BOWS
From the film "The Paleface" (1948)
(Jay Livingston / Ray Evans - Won Academy Award for "Best Song")

Bob Hoope - 1948
Dinah Shore - 1948
The Dinning Sisters - 1948
Betty Garrett - 1948
Betty Jane Rhodes - 1948
Evelyn Knight - 1948
Gene Autry - 1948
Eddie Fisher - 1955
Ray Conniff Singers - 1959
Connie Francis - 1962
The Bropwns - 1965
David Grisman - 1999
Michael Feinstein & Jay Livingstone - 2001
Also recorded by: Vaughn Monroe; Tommy Bruce; 
Clark Sisters; Tak Sindo. 


East is east and west is west
And the wrong one I have chose
Let's go where they keep on wearin'
Those frills and flowers and buttons and bows
Rings and things and buttons and bows.

Don't bury me in this prairie
Take me where the cement grows
Let's move down to some big town
Where they love a gal by the cut o' her clothes
And you'll stand out, in buttons and bows.

I'll love you in buckskin
Or skirts that you've homespun
But I'll love ya' longer, stronger 
Where yer friends don't tote a gun

My bones denounce the buckboard bounce
And the cactus hurts my toes
Let's vamoose where gals keep a-usin'
Those silks and satins and linen that shows
And I'm all yours in buttons and bows.

Gimme eastern trimmin' where women are women
In high silk hose and peek-a-boo clothes
And French perfume that rocks the room
And I'm all yours in buttons and bows.

Buttons and bows, buttons and bows.....


*****


Lyric variation as recorded by Dinah Shore:


SPOKEN:A western ranch is just a branch of Nowhere Junction to me.
Give me the city where living's pretty and the gals wear finery.

East is east and west is west
And the wrong one I have chose
Let's go where I'll keep on wearin'
Those frills and flowers and buttons and bows
Rings and things and buttons and bows

Don't bury me in this prairie
Take me where the cement grows
Let's move down to some big town
Where they love a gal by the cut o' her clothes
And I'll stand out
In buttons and bows

I'll love you in buckskin
Or skirts that I've homespun
But I'll love ya' longer, stronger where
Yer friends don't tote a gun

My bones denounce the buckboard bounce
And the cactus hurts my toes
Let's vamoose where gals keep usin'
Those silks and satins and linen that shows
And I'm all yours in buttons and bows

Gimme eastern trimmin' where women are women
In high silk hose and peek-a-boo clothes
And French perfume that rocks the room
And I'm all yours in buttons and bows


(Contributed by Nancy - July 2003)