DARDANELLA BLUES, THE
(Music: Johnny S. Black / Lyrics: Fred Fisher)


Sophie Tucker (feat. in the Broadway Show "Tick Tac Toe") - 1920
Billy Murray & Ed Smalle - 1920


The Dardanella blues, the Dardanella blues
Was written just to tell the news
About the little fellow who wrote Dardanella
And the girl that he refused

For when he wrote that strain, that Dardanella strain
She said, "You'll never change my name
'Till you write another one that's just as grand"
So he composed this sweet refrain

Oh, that Dardanella Blues
Ask the band to play it, and I'll say they won't refuse
It's one sensation, with a jazz improvement
The orchestration shows up every movement

Oh, the Dardanella Blues
The words are simply nothing, nothing but a good excuse
I heard them say the bass is just a little hard to play
But that is why they like the Dardanella blues

Now when this melody, found popularity
It reached ev'rybody's ears
The girl that threw him down when he wrote Dardanella
Thought that he would go in tears

Instead he used his wit, and wrote another hit
And called it "Dardanella Blues"
His girl came back and now his song is going fine
And after all he didn't lose

Oh, that Dardanella Blues
Ask the band to play it, and I'll say they won't refuse
It's one sensation, with a jazz improvement
The orchestration shows up every movement

Oh, the Dardanella Blues
The words are simply nothing, nothing but a good excuse
I heard them say the bass is just a little hard to play
But that is whythey like the Dardanella blues


********************


As recorded by BILLY MURRAY & ED SMALLE, July 21st 1920:


Dya-dah-dah-dah-dya-dah-dah-dah-dah
Dya-dah-dah-dah-dya-dah-dah-dah-dah

The Dardanella blues, the Dardanella blues
Was written just to tell the news
About the little fellow who wrote Dardanella
And the girl that he refused

For when he wrote that strain, that Dardanella strain
She said, "You'll never change my name
'Till you write another one that's just as grand"
So he composed this sweet refrain

Oh, that Dardanella Blues
Ask the band to play it and I'll say they won't refuse
It's one sensation, with a jazz improvement
The orchestration shows up every movement

Oh, the Dardanella Blues
The words are simply nothin', nothin' but a good excuse
I heard them say the bass is just a little hard to play
But that is why they like the Dardanella, the Dardenella blues

That Oriental strain, it ruined ev'ry brain

Oh, those Dardanella blues
When my sweetie learned it, that's the only song she'd choose
She'd always teach it, miss her daily labours
She'd even preach it to her next door neighbours

Oh, the Dardanella blues
She's so wild about, that my love she'll soon refuse
There goes the part that made me lose her heart, oh, my sweetheart
And if she goes, I blame those Dardanella, the Dardanella blues



(Transcribed by Mel Priddle - February 2016)