And Father Wanted Me To Learn A Trade 1916

by James Pitt-Payne, London UK - 15 Nov 2006
2006

When I was young
my father said to me:
"Learn a trade, learn a trade.
Do me a favor and become an engraver,
for engravers are well paid.
If I'd have done,
what father wanted,
imagine what I'd miss.
There is no doubt
I was cut out
for a life like this."

I come around to the theatre
in my automobile singing:
"This is the life,
this is the life."
Surrounded by Chorus ladies in the troupe,
I spend all my time in a chicken coup,
They come to my dressing room
as cute as can be,
saying: "Won't you hook up my dress for me,"
and it makes me mad
to think my dear old dad
wanted me to learn a trade.

I leave the show ev'ry evening
in my automobile
singing: "This is the life,
this is the life,"
My supper consists of chicken a la King,
I get indigestion and ev'rything.
A ring on my finger with a four carat stone,
twenty payments more,
and its all my own,
and it makes me mad
to think my dear old dad
wanted me to learn a trade.

When I come out
with lots of powder upon my sleeve,
on my sleeve.
Somebody rested on my new doublebreasted,
I believe you've got me, Steve.
I always kiss the prima donna
in every sense we act.
Leave it to me That has to be,
it's in my contract.

I come around to the theatre
in my automobile singing:
"This is the life,
this is the life."
Surrounded by Chorus ladies in the troupe,
I spend all my time in a chicken coup,
They come to my dressing room
as cute as can be,
saying: "Won't you hook up my dress for me,"
and it makes me mad
to think my dear old dad
wanted me to learn a trade.

I leave the show ev'ry evening
in my automobile
singing: "This is the life,
this is the life,"
My supper consists of chicken a la King,
I get indigestion and ev'rything.
A ring on my finger with a four carat stone,
twenty payments more,
and its all my own,
and it makes me mad
to think my dear old dad
wanted me to learn a trade.

Soft karaoke
Words
piano
piano
piano
piano
*
And Father Wanted Me To Learn A Trade 1916
Words & Music by Irving Berlin
© 1916 by Irving Berlin Inc.  N.Y.
*
sequence & karaoke by James Pitt-Payne, London UK
on Wednesday 15 November 2006 at 5.51pm
in association with Doug Grierson
*