SHANGHAI LIL
From the film "Footlight Parade" (1933)
(Lyrics: Al Dubin / Music: Harry Warren)
James Cagney & Ruby Keeler (Film Soundtrack) - 1933
Guy Lombardo & His Royal Canadians (vocal: Carmen Lombardo) - 1933
Gene Kardos' Merrymakers (vocal: Dick Robertson) - 1933
Ben Bernie & All The Lads (vocal: Stu Johnson) - 1933
Rudy Vallee & His Connecticut Yankees (vocal: Rudy Vallee) - 1933
Paul Whiteman & His Orch. (vocal: Bob Lawrence) - 1933
Chick Bullock's Levee Loungers - 1933
Leon Belasco & His Hotel St. Moritz Orch. - 1933
Harry Roy & His Orch. (vocal: Harry Roy) - 1933
Mario Latilla - 1933 (Italian Recording)
Enzo Fusco - 1933 ( " " )
Charlie Kunz' Casani Club Band - 1934
Gisella Carmi & Gino del Signore - 1934 (Italian Recording)
Ines Talamo & Crivel - 1934 (Italian Recording)
Le Jazz du Poste Parisien (Instr.) - 1934 (French Recording)
Leo de la Fuente (Instr.) - 1934 (Dutch Recording)
Szedo Miklós - 1934 (Hungarian Recording)
Quartetto Vocale Cetra - 1948 (Italian Recording)
Al Hibbler - 1956
Justi Barreto - 1956
Cheryl Bentine & The New Deal Ehythm Band - 1977
Rio Nido - 1978
Elaine St. George - 1998
Jeff Ide - 2009
Temples reaching to the stars, international bazaars
Chummy little Chinese ladies, drinking at those dinky bars
Balmy breezes rom the sea, blossoms in the cherry tree
Everything is so familiar, but where, oh, where is she
I've covered every little highway
And I've been climbing every hill
I've been looking high and I've been looking low
Looking for my Shanghai Lil
The stars that hang high over Shanghai
Bring back the memory of a thrill
I've been looking high and I've been looking low
Looking for my Shanghai Lil
I learned to love her
The little devil was just a butterfly
But you'd discover something on the level
Shining in her eye
Oh, I've been trying to forget her
But what's the use, I never will
I'll be looking high and I'll be looking low
Till I find my Shanghai Lil
Anxiously I cast an eye on each street throughout Shanghai
Plenty Oriental ladies beckon as they pass me by
But my mind just can't erase one outstanding lovely face
So, until the day I find out, I'll never leave this place
I've covered every little highway
And I've been climbing every hill
I've been looking high and I've been looking low
Looking for my Shanghai Lil
The stars that hang high over Shanghai
Bring back the memory of a thrill
I've been looking high and I've been looking low
Looking for my Shanghai Lil
I learned to love her
The little devil was just a butterfly
But you'd discover something on the level
Shining in her eye
Oh, I've been trying to forget her
But what's the use, I never will
I'll be looking high and I'll be looking low
Till I find my Shanghai Lil
********************
As performed in the film "Footlight Parade"
by James Cagney, Ruby Keeler & Chorus (1933):
1st WOMAN:
Looking for your Shanghai Lil?
MAN:
No, she ain't your Shanghai Lil
2nd WOMAN:
Don't give him flowers
He'll just take your flowers straight to Shanghai Lil
BARTENDER:
No, I ain't seen Shanghai Lil
SAILOR:
Hello, Bill, you old galoot
Where'd you get that monkey suit?
CAGNEY:
Don't tell anyone you saw me
Or I'll rap you in the snoot
SAILOR:
Hey, you jumped ship. Now what's your game?
CAGNEY:
Oh, just looking for a dame
SAILOR:
Staying here, you're taking chances
CAGNEY:
Yeah? Well I'll stay, just the same
I've covered every little highway
And I've been climbing every hill
I've been looking high and I've been looking low,
Looking for my Shanghai Lil
The stars that hang high over Shanghai
Bring back the memory of a thrill
I've been looking high and I've been looking low
Looking for my Shanghai Lil
I learnt to love her
The little devil was just a butterfly
But you discover something on the level
Shining in her eye
Oh, I've been trying to forget her
But what's the use? I never will
I've been looking high and I've been looking low
Looking for my Shanghai Lil
I've got to have another brandy
1st WOMAN: He's shaking like he's got a chill
2nd WOMAN: I know what it takes
To cure him of the shakes
1st MAN: Ah, what he wants is Shanghai Lil
2nd MAN: Oh, she's a fascinatin' heathen
3rd WOMAN: But say! She ain't been through the mill
3rd MAN: Since she met that gob, she's acting like a snob
4th WOMAN: Say, who the heck is Shanghai Lil?
5th WOMAN: That Chinee devil!
6th WOMAN: No, she's on the level, she can't hurt you and me
7th WOMAN: That Oriental dame is detrimental to our industry
8th WOMAN: You said it!
4th MAN: I offered 'er a 'ouse in London
5th MAN: And I a château in the ville
6th MAN: She says she won't be mine for all of Palestine, Oy!
9th WOMAN: They all go for Shanghai Lil
SAILOR:
Come on, let's drink to Lil
He's looking for her still
Drink her down to Shanghai Lil
ALL:
Hey!
ALL:
Here's to the gal who loves a sailor
It's looking like she always will
SAILOR:
She's every sailor's pal, she's anybody's gal
ALL:
Drink her down to Shanghai Lil
SAILORS:
He can knock 'em down
And he can lay 'em low
Fighting for his . . .
CAGNEY:
Shanghai Lil!
KEELER:
I miss you very much a long time
I think that you no love me still
CAGNEY:
I've been looking high and I've been looking low
Looking for you, Shanghai Lil
KEELER:
I think you go with other sweethearts,
And very many tears I spill
SAILORS:
He's been looking high and he's been looking low
Looking for you, Shanghai Lil
KEELER:
I got new lover
CAGNEY:
You little devil, you're just a butterfly
KEELER:
I like new lover
CAGNEY:
You're still on the level, you can't kid this guy
KEELER:
I pray to Buddha in the joss-house
And Buddha, he bring back my Bill
SAILORS:
He's been looking high and he's been looking low
Looking for you, Shanghai Lil
KEELER:
Oh please, you take me on great big steamboat
With you across the sea
CAGNEY:
I'd like to take you, but that great big steamboat
Don't belong to me
ALL:
The stars that hang high over Shanghai
Bring back the memory of a thrill
I've been looking high and I've been looking low
Looking for my Shanghai Lil
I learnt to love her
The little devil was just a butterfly
But you discover something on the level
Shining in her eye
Oh, I've been trying to forget her
But what's the use, I never will
I've been looking high and I've been looking low
Till I find my Shanghai Lil
(Transcribed by Mel Priddle - March 2017)
