The Siren Of The Ballet 1899 'The Singing Girl'

James Pitt-Payne, London UK - 06 Feb 2004

In the ballet I saw her one rapturous night,
Terpsichore, goddess of dancing,
her cheeks were so rosy,
her eyes were so bright,
I never saw girl so entrancing.
Her dress was a trifle,
but one of her grace,
was far above all earthly scandals;
She looked like a lovely umbrella of lace,
with a couple of shapely pink handles.
I gazed in ecstasy of bliss,
while she went sailing 'round like this.

[First Dance:]

Oh, my blooming blushing fairy
with your grace and garments airy.
How I wish that I might dare a kiss
upon that brow untainted;
but the fates were quite contrary,
then I wished I'd been more wary;
for alas, I found that "ma cherie"
was not all my fancy dreamed.

In response to applause
from the ushers and me,
she came out in a halo of glory,
she bowed, and her smiles
were delightful to see
when the ushers and I cried "encory."
Her ankles seemed twinkling
all over the place;
her eyes were a gleaming stiletto;
I'll never forget how coquettish her grace,
as she tripped through a light Allegretto.
To strains of music light and sweet,
she trotted 'round on fairy feet.

[Second Dance:]

Oh, my blooming blushing fairy
with your grace and garments airy.
How I wish that I might dare a kiss
upon that brow untainted;
but the fates were quite contrary,
then I wished I'd been more wary;
for alas, I found that "ma cherie"
was not all my fancy dreamed.

Next night I determine
my goddess to meet,
for my mind and my heart she engages.
I purchased a jumbo bouquet down the street,
it cost me an even week's wages;
I waited that night
till a crone old and grey,
and a youth from the stage entrance sally;
He addressed her as "Grandma,"
I fainted away; 'Twas my fairy;
my Queen of the ballet.
She'd seen at lowest sixty springs,
and yet she did this sort of thing:

[Third Dance:]

Oh my antiquated fairy
how your charms have made me vary;
steal a kiss from that?
Well: "Nary!" If I'd kissed her
I'd have fainted;
Oh, the fates were most contrary,
how I wished I'd been more chary;
for that venerable old fairy,
was not all my fancy dreamed.

Soft karaoke
Words
piano 1
piano 2
piano 3
piano 4
lyric
pizz str bass
*
The Siren Of The Ballet 1899
Lyrics by Harry B. Smith
Music by Victor Herbert
copyright MDCCCXCIX by M. Witmark & Sons
*
sequence and karaoke by James Pitt-Payne, London UK
on Friday 06 February 2004 at 22.04
in association with Doug Grierson
*
"The Singing Girl." -  A Comic Opera in 3 Acts.
Music by Victor Herbert. Book by Stanislaus Stange.
Lyrics by Harry B. Smith.
Stange - Harry B. Smith Publication: New York
M. Witmark & Sons, 1899.
*