CAN YOU SAY BREAD AND BUTTER WITHOUT MOVING YOUR LIPS
(T. Waite)

Tommy Handley - 1927



I've been trying for quite a while to do one certain thing
If I could only do it, I'd be proud as any king
I'm trying ev'ry night at home, I try each day at biz
I'd like you all to try it, so I'll tell you what it is

Can you say bread and butter without moving your lips
Can you say boiled beef without moving your lips
Can you say bed and breakfast, biscuits, and bunions
I said bunions, bunions, not onions

You can't say hips and you can't say pips
You can't say rips and you can't say dips
You might say fish, but you can't say chips
And you can't say bread and butter without moving your lips

SPOKEN: Ha-ha, trés ludicrous, this song.

Now I've told you what it is, I hope you persevere
You must not move your lips at all, but you may move one ear
You'll find it very hard because you've tongue you've got to twist
But once you've done it, then you'll be a real ventriloquist

SPOKEN: Now, listen folks, let's try and sing the chorus without moving our lips and see what it sounds like. Now, come on, get your ears well back, keep your lips still, don't blow your tonsils out, and let it go!

Can you say gread and gutter without moving your lips
Can you say goiled geef without moving your lips
Can you say ged and greakfast, giscuits, and gunions
I said gunions, gunions, not onions 

You can't say hix and you can't say pix
You can't say rix and you can't say dix
You might say fish, but you can't say chix
And you can't say bread and butter without moving your lips


(Transcribed by Mel Priddle - July 2010)