WHAT HAVE WE GOT TO LOSE (HI-HO-LACK-A-DAY)
(Louis Alter / Charlotte Kent / Gus Kahn)

Phil Harris & His Cocoanut Grove Orch. - 1933
Roy Bargy & Ramona - 1933
Ben Bernie & His Orch. (vocal: Ben Bernie) - 1933
Bob Causer & His Cornellians (vocal: Elmer Feldkamp) - 1933
Carroll Gibbons & His Boyfriends (vocal: Harry Bentley) - 1933
Jack Jackson & His Orch. - 1933
Syd Baxter & His Orch. - 1933
Roy Abbot & His Orch. - 1933




As recorded by PHIL HARRIS:

Now, I've got the swellest proposition
And I keep wishin' that you'd agree
'Cause, honey, in my life there's only one ambition
It's concerning you and concerning me

Now, I haven't got a nickel
And you haven't got a dime
But I'm not so very busy, dear
And you've got lots of time
Hi-ho-lack-a-day
Now, what've we got to lose

Now, I'm very fond of walking
'Cause I haven't any car
And the church around the corner, dear
Is not so very far
Hi-ho-lack-a-day
What've we got to lose

Hi-diddle-diddle, that’s a song
That we can sing the whole day long
Hi-ho, why if anything goes wrong
We’ll just sing our worries away

Now, we won't let little troubles
Upset our sweet romance
'Cause history, dear, will tell ya
That Columbus took a chance
Hi-ho-lack-a-day
What've we got to lose


(Transcribed by Mel Priddle - April 2016)


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ALTERNATE VERSION:

I haven’t got a penny
You’re just as broke as me
I’m not so very busy
And you’re absolutely free
Hi-ho-lack-a-day
What have we got to lose?

You’re very fond of walking
I haven’t any car
The church around the corner, dear
Is not so very far
Hi-ho-lack-a-day
What have we got to lose?

Hi-diddle-diddle, that’s a song
That we can sing the whole day long
Hi-ho, if anything goes wrong
We’ll sing our worries away

And somewhere in the country
We’ll find a little nest
We’ll pay a porter’s rent
And they can sue us for the rest
Hi-ho-lack-a-day
What have we got to lose?