BUTTON UP YOUR OVERCOAT
From the Broadway Musical "Follow Thru" (1929)
(Lyrics: Buddy G. DeSylva & Lew Brown / Music: RayHenderson)
Zelma O'Neal & Jack Haley (Broadway Production) - 1929
Ben Bernie & His Hotel Roosevelt Orch. (vocal: Dick Robertson) - 1929
Zelma O'Neal - 1929
Helen Kane - 1929
Ruth Etting - 1929
Waring's Pennsylvanians - 1929
Patsy Young (aka Annette Hanshaw) - 1929
Paul Whiteman & His Orch. (vocal: Vaughn Deleath) - 1929
Golden Gate Orch. (vocal: Happy Jack) - 1929
Dorsey Brothers Orch. (vocal: Smith Ballew) - 1929
Vincent Richards (aka Sam Lanin) & His Orch. - 1929
Jack Hylton & His Orch. (vocal: Sam Browne) - 1929
Ambrose & His Orch. (vocal: Lou Abelardo) - 1929
Harry Bidgood's Manhattan Melodymakers (vocal: John Thorn) - 1929
Zelma O'Neal & Jack Haley (Film Soundtrack) 1930
Spike Hughes & His Dance Orch. (vocal: Betty Bolton) - 1931
Johnny Mercer (Radio Transcription) - 1944
Dinah Shore (Radio Transcription) - 1945
Sarah Vaughan - 1947
Bob Howard & His Rhythm - 1948
The Hi-Lo's - 1955
Gordon MacRae (feat. in the film "The Best Things In Life Are Free") - 1956
Eydie Gormé - 1958
Jack Lemmon - 1959
Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band - 1966
Nancy Sinatra - 1967
Connie Francis - 1968
Teresa Brewer - 1974
Also recorded by:
Dick Haymes & Martha Tilton; Patty Stone; Bobby Troup; Madame Zenja;
Henry's Bootblacks; Ray Charles Singers; Stephanie Pope; Chenille Sisters;
Lionel Newman & His Orch.; Robert Farnon & His Orch.; Yehudi Menuhin;
Bing Crosby & Rosemary Clooney; Rose Murphy; Ted Heath & His Music;
Ben Berlin Tanz-Orchester ........ and many others.
As performed by ZELMA O'NEAL and JACK HALEY
in the 1930 film, Follow Thru":
ZELMA:
Listen, big boy
Now that I've got you made
Goodness, but I'm afraid
Something's gonna happen to you
Listen, big boy
You got me hooked, and how
I would die if I should lose you now
Button up your overcoat
When the wind is free
Take good care of yourself
You belong to me
Eat an apple every day
Get to bed by three
Oh, take good care of yourself
You belong to me
Be careful crossing streets, ooh-woh
Don't eat meat, ooh-woh
Cut out sweets, ooh-woh
You'll get a pain and ruin your tum-tum
Take the spoon out of your cup
When you're drinkin' tea
Take good care of yourself
You belong to me
JACK HALEY:
Listen, girlfriend
You've knocked me off my feet
I think you're very sweet
Making such a fuss about me
Listen, girlfriend
Now that I'm fond of you
I'm afraid I'm going to worry, too
Button up your overcoat
When the wind is free
Take good care of yourself
You belong to me
Wear your flannel underwear
When you climb a tree,
Take good care of yourself
You belong to me
Don't sit on hornet's tails, ooh-wooh
Or on nails, ooh-woh
Or third rails, ooh-woh
You'll get a pain and ruin your tum-tum
Never start an argument
With a bumblebee
Take good care of yourself
You belong to me
(Transcribed by Mel Priddle - June 2017)
*********************
As recorded by HELEN KANE:
Listen, big boy,
Now that you got me made,
Goodness, but I'm afraid,
Somethin's gonna happen to you!
Listen, big boy,
You gotta be hooked, and how,
I would die if I should lose you now!
Button up your overcoat,
When the wind is free,
Oh, take good care of yourself,
You belong to me!
Eat an apple every day,
Get to bed by three,
Oh, take good care of yourself,
You belong to me!
Be careful crossing streets, ooh-ooh,
Cut out sweets, ooh-ooh,
Lay off meat, ooh-ooh,
You'll get a pain and ruin your tum-tum!
Wear your flannel underwear,
When you climb a tree,
Oh, take good care of yourself,
You belong to me!
Button up your overcoat,
When the wind is free,
Oh, take good care of yourself,
You belong to me!
When you sass a traffic cop,
Use diplomacy;
Just take good care of yourself,
You belong to me!
Beware of frozen funds, ooh-ooh,
Stocks and bonds, ooh-ooh,
Dockside thugs, ooh-ooh,
You'll get a pain and ruin your bankroll!
Keep the spoon out of your cup,
When you're drinking tea,
Oh, take good care of yourself,
You belong to me!
Don't sit on hornet's tails, ooh-ooh!
Or on nails, ooh-ooh!
Or third rails, ooh-ooh!
You'll get a pain and ruin your tum-tum!
Keep away from bootleg hooch
When you're on a spree,
Oh, take good care of yourself,
You belong to me!
********************
As recorded by RUTH ETTING:
Listen, big boy,
Now that I've got you made,
Goodness, but I'm afraid,
Something's going to happen to you;
Listen, big boy,
You've got me hooked, and how,
I would die if I should lose you now!
Button up your overcoat,
When the wind is free,
Take good care of yourself,
You belong to me!
Oh, eat an apple every day,
Get to bed by three,
Take good care of yourself,
You belong to me!
Be careful crossing streets, ooh-ooh,
Don't eat meats, ooh-ooh,
Cut out sweets, ooh-ooh,
You'll get a pain and ruin your tum-tum!
Keep away from bootleg hooch
When you're on a spree,
Take good care of yourself,
You belong to me!
Don't step on hornet's tails, ooh-ooh!
Or on nails, ooh-ooh!
Or third rails, ooh-ooh!
You'll get a pain and ruin your tum-tum!
Oh, button up your overcoat,
When the wind is free,
Take good care of yourself,
You belong to me!
Oh, wear your flannel underwear,
When you climb a tree,
Take good care of yourself,
You belong to me!
Steer clear of frozen ponds, ooh-ooh,
Peroxide blondes, ooh-ooh,
Stocks and bonds, ooh-ooh,
You'll get a pain, ruin your bankroll!
Keep the spoon out of your cup,
When you're drinking tea,
Take good care of yourself,
You belong to me!
******************
As performed by DICK HAYMES & MARTHA TILTON (Radio Transcription):
DICK
Button up your overcoat
When the wind is free
Take good care of yourself
You belong to me
MARTHA:
Eat an apple every day
Get to bed by three
Take good care of yourself
You belong to me
DICK:
Be careful crossing streets
Don't eat meat
MARTHA:
Cut out sweets (DICK: Why's that?)
You'll get a pain and ruin your tum-tum
DICK:
Keep away from bootleg hooch
When you're on a spree
Take good care of yourself
You belong to me
SPOKEN:
MARTHA: Say, Dick, have you been reading about all that bad weather back East?
DICK: I sure have, Martha. It's murder ain't it?
MARTHA: Well, just for pure orneriness, let's sing another chorus, California style.
DICK: Okay, here we go.
DICK:
Throw away your overcoat
When you come to Cal
You won't need it out here
Please believe me, pal
MARTHA:
Leave your umbrella in the hall
'Cause it never rains
Throw your rubbers away
And your auto chains
DICK:
And when you cross the street
Look up and down
Look back and forth
Then run, run, run like mad
'Cause the California drivers are bad
MARTHA:
Keep away from nightclub fights
When you're on a spree
BOTH:
Take good care of yourself
You belong to me
(Transcribed by Mel Priddle - June 2017)
