I'M PAINTING THE TOWN RED
Sammy H Stept

as rec by Billie Holiday w Teddy Wilson & his Orch  
July 31st 1935 New York


A smile on my face,
A song on my lips,
Pretendin' is all I do;
I'm paintin' the town red
To hide a heart that's blue.

I'm gay with the crowd,
I play with the crowd,
But oh, if they only knew!
I'm paintin' the town red
To hide a heart that's blue.

Must I go on, carryin' on
My marathon of "just pretend"?
Loving you so, wanting you so,
Where will it end, how will it end?

A smile on my face,
A song on my lips,
But never forgetting you;

I'm paintin' the town red
To hide a heart that's blue.





(Contributed by Peter Akers - July 2009)