TWO LITTLE BABES IN THE WOOD
Originally written for the New York show "Greenwich Village Follies"
(1924), but dropped and then used in the show "Paris" (1928)
(Cole Porter)
Julia Silvers & George Hale - 1924
Irene Bordoni - 1928
Cole Porter - 1934
There's a tale of two little orphans
Who were left in their Uncle's care
To be reared and ruled and properly schooled
Till they grew to be ladies fair
But, oh, the luckless pair
For the Uncle, he was a cruel trustee
And he longed to possess their gold
So he led them hence to a forest dense
Where he left them to die of cold
That, at least, is what we're told
They were two little babes in the wood
Two little babes, oh so good
Two little hearts, two little heads
Longed to be home in their two little beds
So, two little birds built a nest
Where the two little babes went to rest
While the breeze, hovering nigh
Sang a last lullaby
To the two little babes in the wood
They were lying there in the freezing air
When fortunately there appeared
A rich old man in a big sedan
And a very,very fancy beard
He saw those girls and cheered
Then he drove them down to New York Town
Where he covered them with useful things
Such as bonds and stocks, and Paris frocks
And Oriental pearls in strings
And a showcase full of rings
Now those two little babes in the wood
Are the talk of the whole neighbourhood
For they've too many cars, too many clothes
Too many parties and too many beaus
They have found that the fountain of youth
Is a mixture of gin and vermouth
And the whole town's agreed
That the last thing in speed
Is the two little babes in the wood
*****
The original 1924 version contained introductions
to the verses as follows:
Listen, my children, and don't say a word...
Now you'll grant me that Denmark has ne'er had a grander son
Than her great author, old Hans Christian Andersen
All of you know him, so just to be good to you
I'll tell his tale of the Babes in the Wood to you
There's a tale of two little orphans
Who were left in their Uncle's care
To be reared and ruled and properly schooled
Till they grew to be ladies fair
But, oh, the luckless pair
For the Uncle, he was a cruel trustee
And he longed to possess their gold
So he led them hence to a forest dense
Where he left them to die of cold
That, at least, is what we're told
They were two little babes in the wood
Two little babes, oh so good
Two little hearts, two little heads
Longed to be home in their two little beds
So, two little birds built a nest
Where the two little babes went to rest
While the breeze, hovering nigh
Sang a last lullaby
To the two little babes in the wood
Listen, my children, and don't say a word...
Now in spite of all efforts to strengthen and quicken it
Andersens's tale never had any kick in it
So his descendant, John Murray, in fantasy
Addd a scene for the tired businessman to see
They were lying there in the freezing air
When fortunately there appeared
A rich old man in a big sedan
And a very,very fancy beard
He saw those girls and cheered
Then he drove them down to New York Town
Where he covered them with useful things
Such as bonds and stocks, and Paris frocks
And Oriental pearls in strings
And a showcase full of rings
Now those two little babes in the wood
Are the talk of the whole neighbourhood
For they've too many cars, too many clothes
Too many parties and too many beaus
They have found that the fountain of youth
Is a mixture of gin and vermouth
And the whole town's agreed
That the last thing in speed
Is the two little babes in the wood
