Art Is Calling For Me 1906 'The Enchantress'

James Pitt-Payne, London UK - 17 Feb 2004

Mamma is a queen and papa is a king;
so I am a Princess, I know it;
But court etiquette
is a dull dreary thing,
I just hate it all,
and I show it.
To sing on the stage,
that's the one life for me,
my figure's just like Tetrazini;
I know I'd win fame
if I sang in Boheme,
that op'ra by Signor Puccini.
I've roulades and the trills
that would send the cold chills
down the backs of all hearers
of my vocal frills.

I long to be a prima donna, donna, donna,
I long to shine upon the stage,
I have the embonpoit
to become a queen of song,
and my figure would look pretty as a page.
I want to be a screechy, peachy cantatrice,
like other plump girls that I see;
I hate society,
I hate propriety;
Art is calling for me.

I long to be a prima donna, donna, donna,
I long to shine upon the stage,
I hate society,
I hate propriety;
Art is calling for me.

I'm in the élite,
and men sigh at my feet;
still I do not fancy my position;
I have not much use
for the men that I meet,
I quite burn with lyric ambition.
Those tenors so sweet,
if they made love to me,
I'd be a success, that I do know;
and Melba I'd oust
if I once sang in Faust,
that op'ra so charming by Gounod.
Girls would be on the brink
of hysterics, I think,
even strong men would have to go out
for a drink.

I long to be a prima donna, donna, donna,
I long to shine upon the stage,
With my avoirdupois
and my tra la la la la,
I would be the chief sensation of the age.
I long to hear them shouting:
"Viva" to the Diva,
Oh, very lovely that must be;
That's what I'm dying for,
that's what I'm sighing for,
Art is calling for me.

I long to be a prima donna, donna, donna,
I long to shine upon the stage,
That's what I'm dying for,
that's what I'm sighing for,
Art is calling for me.

Soft karaoke
Words
piano 1
piano 2
piano 3
piano 4
lyric
pizz str bass
*
Art Is Calling For Me 1911
Lyrics by Harry B. Smith
Music by Victor Herbert
copyright MCMXI by M. Witmark & Sons
*
sequence and karaoke by James Pitt-Payne, London UK
on Tuesday 17 February 2004 at 16.41
in association with Doug Grierson
*
Joseph M. Gaites Presents - "The Enchantress"
An Opera Comique with Kitty Gordon.
Book and Lyrics by Fred De Gresac & Harry B. Smith
Music by Victor Herbert.
Harry B. Smith - Victor Herbert Publication: New York
M. Witmark & Sons, 1911.
*