PALESTEENA
J Russell Robinson (m) Con Conrad (l)  1920

as rec by Frank Crumit w Orch cond by Charkles A Prince  
Oct 2nd 1920 New York

also rec by-
Eddie Cantor '20
Eric Concerto & his Yankee Jazz Band '20
Bernie Kreuger & his Orch '20
Vincent Lopez & his Orch '20
The Original Dixieland Jazz Band '20
The Plantation Jazz Orch '20
Nappy Lamare w Bob Crosby & his Bobcats '30's


In The Bronx of New York City
Lives a girl, she's not so pretty,
Lena is her name.
Such a clever girl is Lena,
How she plays a concertina,
Really it's a shame!

She's such a good musician,
She got a swell position
To go across the sea and entertain;
And so they shipped poor Lena
Way out to Palesteena;
>From what I hear, now she don't look the same!

They say that Lena is the queen of Palesteena,
Just because she plays a concertina!
She only knows one song,
She plays it all day long;
Sometimes she plays it wrong,
But how they love it,
Want more of it!

I heard her play once or twice,
Oh murder, tune it was nice!
All the girls, they're dressed like Lena,
Some wear oatmeal, some Farina,
Down old Palesteena way!

Lena's girlfriend, Arabella,
Let her meet an Arab fella
That she thought was grand!
On a camel's back a-swayin',
You could hear Miss Lena playin'
O'er the desert sand.

She didn't play that new one,
For all she knew was blue ones,
Still Yusef sat and listened in his tent;
And as he tried to kiss her,
She heard that Arab whisper,
"Oh Lena, play your instrument!".

Lena is the queen of Palesteena,
Just because she plays a concertina!
She only knows one song,
She plays it all day long;
Sometimes she plays it wrong,
But how they love it,
Want more of it!

I heard her play once or twice,
Ooh murder, tune it was nice!
While that Arab danced so gaily,
She would pracrise ailey ailey,
Down old Palesteena way!



(Transcribed by Peter Akers - August 2011)