The Tattoed Man 1897 'The Idol's Eye'

James Pitt-Payne, London UK - 08 Feb 2004

Do you remember, Angeline,
that heartless "Human Snake"
who won my heart in another part
and gave that heart a break?
I'll sing you now of my sweet revenge,
'Twas retribution stern;
She fell in love with a tattoed man
who broke her heart in turn.

Ah! He was a human picture gallery
such a spectacular gent;
he won her heart, and drew her salary,
he never gave her a cent;
till one good day with her season's pay
and the Fat Lady off he ran,
Oh 'tis perfectly true
you can beat a tattoo,
but you can't beat a tattoed man!

[Dance:]

He had designs upon himself,
she had designs on him;
she loved to look at the picture book
he had on ev'ry limb.
"Oh, why should I go abroad?" she said,
to Germany, France, or Rome;
with a lovely collection awaiting inspection
in my happy, little home.

Ah! He was a human picture gallery
such a spectacular gent;
he won her heart, and drew her salary,
he never gave her a cent;
till one good day with her season's pay
and the Fat Lady off he ran,
Oh 'tis perfectly true
you can beat a tattoo,
but you can't beat a tattoed man!

[Dance:]

He'd Raphael's Cherubs on his brow,
The Angelus on his chest;
while on his back was a lib'ral stack
of "Old Masters" of the best.
"Oh, picture to yourself," she said,
A lovelorn maiden's doom;
"I cannot picture to myself," he said,
"for there's no more room."

Ah! He was a human picture gallery
such a spectacular gent;
he won her heart, and drew her salary,
he never gave her a cent;
till one good day with her season's pay
and the Fat Lady off he ran,
Oh 'tis perfectly true
you can beat a tattoo,
but you can't beat a tattoed man!

[Dance:]

Soft karaoke
Words
piano 1
piano 2
piano 3
piano 4
lyric
pizz str bass
*
The Tattoed Man 1897
Lyrics by Harry B. Smith
Music by Victor Herbert
copyright 1897 by Edward Schuberth & Co.
*
sequence and karaoke by James Pitt-Payne, London UK
on Sunday 08 February 2004 at 16.31
in association with Doug Grierson
*
"The Idol's Eye"
as performed by The Frank Daniels Comic Opera Company
Libretto by Harry B. Smith
Music by Victor Herbert
Pub: New York: Edward Schuberth & Co. 1897
*