YANKEE DOODLE NEVER WENT TO TOWN
Bernie Hannighen / Arthur Freed  1935

as rec by Billie Holiday w Teddy Wilson & his Orch  
Oct 25th 1935 New York


also rec by-
Ruth Lee w Joe Venuti & his Orch '35
Benny Goodman & his Orch


Yankee Doodle never went to town,
I've just discovered this story is phoney;
Let me give you all the real lowdown,
He didn't even own a pony!

He was really very short and fat,
While in the story so skinny and moany;
And so hungry that he ate his hat
And called the feather macaroni!

Underneath the chestnut tree,
He and the blacksmith would sip their tea,
Then he'd bring out his zither for an old lowdown,
That's how he went to town!

Yankee Doodle tried to leave one day,
Took his belongings and mounted his saddle,
But he never started on his way
'Cause he didn't have a pony,
And the fairy tale is phoney!
How could Yankee Doodle go to town?






(Contributed by Peter Akers - January 2010)