I've Got My Habits On 1921 Jimmy Durante

by James Pitt-Payne, London UK - 05 Jan 2007
2007

Some folks got a habit for sleepin'
some folks got a habit to snore,
but I got a habit for just one thing;
that's struttin' on a ballroom floor.
My own "Sweetie" saw me
Foxtrottin' at a swell affair
Got mad, bad and ev'rything
But I just said I don't care.

I've got my habits on
Lawd knows, it's on me good and strong
can't help it.
When that trombone moans
I forget about home.
With something on my arms,
lookin' pretty
just a bunch of charms,
cute and witty,
can't you see
I'm gettin' hot
Leader man,
don't you stop,
Now, sure as you are born
dog gone I've got my habits on.

I once had a habit for
"Walkin' the Dog"
Did the "Jack Rabbit" and
"Sittin' on the Log"
Sure got the habit to
"Ball the Jack"
Even did a dance they called the
"Hammer and Tack."
Gimmie little Shimmie,
yes I've stepped them all;
I used to do them down at the Strutter's Ball.
I've shined my shoes and slicked my clothes
Look out, for I'm on my dancing toes.

I've got my habits on
Ain't got a bunion or a corn
my feet are harmless, as a rule
I'm a struttin' ole fool.
I cleans up in a hall,
and I spreads my stuff at ev'ry ball;
say I've got 'em on the square,
I am there,
I'm a wang,
I'm a bear.
My shoes are out of pawn
dog gone I've got my habits on.

Folks, I'm just a glutton for struttin'
no time have I had quite enough,
I 'spose I am something like "Strut Miss Lizzie"
crazy 'bout the jazzy stuff.
Ragtime Music's got 'em
it's appetizing to the brain,
if jazz tunes are not allowed
to my feet they must explain.

I've got my habits on
Lawd knows, it's on me good and strong
can't help it.
When that trombone moans
I forget about home.
With something on my arms,
lookin' pretty
just a bunch of charms,
cute and witty,
can't you see
I'm gettin' hot
Leader man,
don't you stop,
Now, sure as you are born
dog gone I've got my habits on.

My sister's got a habit
so has my brother.
We've got a habit for something or other,
Dad's got a habit
my mammy too
they've got a habit
to beat me black and blue.
Uncle Hezikiah Obediah Burke
has a lazy habit
always dodging work.
A bird passed where I worked today.
My boss got sore when he heard me say:

I've got my habits on
Ain't got a bunion or a corn
my feet are harmless, as a rule
I'm a struttin' ole fool.
I cleans up in a hall,
and I spreads my stuff at ev'ry ball;
say I've got 'em on the square,
I am there,
I'm a wang,
I'm a bear.
My shoes are out of pawn
dog gone I've got my habits on.

Soft karaoke
Words
piano
piano
piano
piano
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I've Got My Habits On 1921 Jimmy Durante
Music by Jimmy Durante
Lyrics by Chris Smith & Bob Schafer
© 1921 by Goodman & Rose Inc.  N.Y.
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sequence & karaoke by James Pitt-Payne, London UK
on Friday 05 January 2007 at 10.00am
in association with Doug Grierson
*