LET'S TAKE A WALK AROUND THE BLOCK
From the show "Life Begins At 8:40" (1934)
(Harold Arlen / Ira Gerswin / E.Y. Harburg)

Recorded by: Ella Fitzgerald; Doris Day; Maureen McGovern; 
Four Freshmen; Mel Tormé; Phillip Officer; K.T. Sullivan;
Sylvia McNair & André Previn.


I never traveled further North 
Than old Van Courtland Park
And never further South than the aquarium
I've seen the charm of Jersey City, 
But first let me remark
I saw it from the empire state solarium

But we've been putting nickels 
In the postal savings bank
And when those nickels pile up, 
We can toddle off in swank
And I don't mean an ordinary cook's tour
I mean a cabin de-luxe tour

Someday we'll go places
New lands and new faces
The day we quit punching the clock
The future looks pleasant,
But at present
Let's take a walk around the block.

You're just the companion
I want at Grand Canyon
for throwing old blades down the rock
The money we have`ll go for travel
Meantime, let's walk around the block.

Gangway, we'll begin
When our, ship comes in
I'll sit on your lap
All over the map

To London in May time
To Venice in play time
To Paris in time for a frock
To Boston in bean time
Darling, meantime
Let's take a walk around the block.

In Winter at Christmas,
We'll visit the isthmus
And see how they lock up a lock
And then in Caracas, on a jackass,
We'll take a ride around the block.

We'll keep to our promise,
To visit St. Thomas
And then at Jamaica we'll dock
The prospect is thrilling,
Still I am willing,
Just now to walk around the block.

Onward, to Cathay
Then to Mandalay
Boom on to Bangkok
Perhaps Vladivostok

We'll send the folks cables,
Accumulate labels,
Buy souvenirs till we're in hock,
But since we are flat in old Manhattan
Let's take a walk around the block.


*****


LET'S TAKE A LONG WAY HOME / LET'S TAKE A WALK AROUND THE BLOCK 
(Medley)

Let's take the long way home 
Let's look for the long way home 
And on the way let's pretend 
That this wonderful night won't end 

Through Asia would be much too soon 
We'll circle once around the moon 
Our dream boat will carry us across the foam 
We'll take the long way 
Make sure it's the wrong way 
Let's take the long way home

You're just the companion
I want at Grand Canyon
for throwing old blades down the rock
The money we have`ll go for travel
Meantime, let's walk around the block


*****


LET'S TAKE THE LONG WAY HOME
From the film "Here Come The Waves" (1944)
(Harold Arlen / Johnny Mercer)

Bing Crosby - 1944
Jo Stafford - 1945
Cab Calloway - 1945
Also recorded by: Rosemary Clooney; Marlene VerPlanck;
Weslia Whitfield; Dominique Eade; Jeanne MacDonald.


Let’s take the long way home,
Let’s look for the long way home
And on the way, let’s pretend
That this wonderful night won’t end.
Through Asia would be much too soon,
We’ll circle once around the moon,
Our dream boat will carry us across the foam,

We’ll take the long way, make sure it’s the wrong way,
Let’s take the long was home.
Shall we fly through the night,
Shall we dream as we go?
See the star on your right, 
See the farm down below?
The whole trip it appears,
Only takes a million years.
If you’re in the mood to roam
Then let’s take the long way home.


(Contributed by Carlene Bogle - July 2003)