SECOND CHORUS (Soundtrack)
Songs from the film "Second Chorus" (1940)
Starring Fred Astaire, Paulette Goddard, Burgess Meredith,
and Artie Shaw & His Orchestra
(I AIN'T HEP TO THAT STEP BUT I'LL) DIG IT
(Hal Bourne / Johnny Mercer)
Performed by Fred Astaire, Paulette Goddard, and the Band
PAULETTE: It seems to me
FRED: It seems to you
PAULETTE: I said it seems to me
FRED: You said it seems to you
PAULETTE: Seems to me I smell a mouse
FRED: Somewhere about the house
FRED: It seems to me
BAND: It seems to you
FRED: I said it seems to me
BAND: You said it seems to you
FRED: That such an embarrasing situation calls for concentration
FRED: Do you dig me, Jack
BAND: We dig you, Jack
FRED: Can you think of a plan
BAND: We solid can
FRED: To get me out of this mess
BAND: Uh, yes, yes, yes. Start the music and play it fast
FRED: Solid, Jack
BAND: Solid, Jack
BAND: Can you sing and dance
FRED: I'll take a chance
BAND: Are your boots on right
FRED: I got 'em laced up tight
BAND: Is Miss Miller a killer
FRED: From a Spanish villa
BAND: Is her dancin' mellow
FRED: Why, mellow as a cello
BAND: Then it seems to me, obviously, you want to go right into your terpsichory
FRED: What will it be
PAULETTE: Don't look at me
FRED: Now let me see, what will it be
FRED:
I never could do the Conga
Could never get through the Conga
But if you say "do the Conga"
I ain't hep to that step, but I'll dig it
I never could see Mazurkas
They're poison to me, Mazurkas
But if it's to be Mazurkas
I ain't hep to that step, but I'll dig it
BAND:
When they invented the Charleston
He was a total flop
FRED:
Right! But, say, if you want a Charleston
I'll never stop, I'll dance till I drop
BAND: Right!
FRED:
I never could dig the Polka
The corniest jig, the Polka
But if you say dig the Polka
I ain't hep to that step, but I'll dig it
**********
(WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE THE) LOVE OF MY LIFE
(Johnny Mercer / Artie Shaw)
Performed by Fred Astaire with Artie Shaw & His Orch.
Would you like to be the love of my life for always
And always watch over me
To square my blunders and share my dreams
One day with caviar, next day a chocolate bar
Would you like to take the merry-go-round
I'll lead you, I'll need you
Just Wait till you see
I hope in your horoscope there is room for a dope who adores you
That would make the only dream of my life come true
For the love of my life is you
**********
BEAUTIFUL DREAMER
(Stephen Foster)
Performed by Charles Butterworth
Beautiful dreamer, wake unto me
Starlight and dewdrops are waiting for thee
Beautiful dreamer, queen of my song
List while I woo thee with soft melody
**********
POOR MR. CHISHOLM
(Bernie Hanighen / Johnny Mercer)
Performed by Fred Astaire & Burgess Meredith
Reprised by Fred Astaire
Poor Mr. Chisholm played on the mandolin
But he couldn't win
'Cause he tried to swing
And he broke a string every time
Poor Mr. Chisholm just couldn't dig the jive
When he did arrive at the proper note
He arrived by boat every time
He tried to jazz up his mandolin
But never could quite control it
He always brought Bach and Handel in
When it took a lick, he always broke a pick
Poor Mr. Chisholm
You're quite a gay old blade
With your serenade, but you're corny, Jack
Better truck on back to Dubuque, get a uke
You disgraced your kin on the mandolin every time
**********
HOE DOWN THE BAYOU
(Bernie Hanighen / Johnny Mercer)
Performed by Fred Astaire, Burgess Meredith & Charles Butterworth
BURGESS:
You pick this up kids, pick it up, boy
FRED:
Yeah, yeah, come on son, the train won't wait
BURGESS:
That's it, that's it, now we're sailin' up that river
On to Memphis, Chattanooga, hold on kids
FRED:
Hear them steamboat whistles blowin', tote that barge, pull that bale
There's a cabin in the cotton, solid South, solid North, solid Jack
CHARLES:
Solid Jack
BURGESS:
Wagon wheels a-creakin' Westward
Now we're rollin past the junction, on to Kansas, Cincinnati
CHARLES:
Cincinnati, my hometown
FRED:
His hometown, your hometown, everybody's hometown, Cincinnati!
**********
Tunes played by Artie Shaw & His Orchestra during the film:
SUGAR (Maceo Pinkard)
EVERYTHING'S JUMPING (Artie Shaw)
SWEET SUE JUST YOU (Victor Young / Will J. Harris)
I'M YOURS (Johnny Green / E.Y. Harburg)
DOUBLE MELLOW (Artie Shaw)
CONCERTO FOR CLARINET (Artie Shaw)
**********
All songs transcribed and/or verified by Mel Priddle - October 2007)
