Why Don't They Dance The Polka? 1914 Kern

by James Pitt-Payne, London UK - 28 Jun 2006
2006

Before the syncopated reign
of ragtime and its noise,
there was a dance that still is loved
by all old girls and boys.
It did not need Pavlova
to exhibit it in style
but just for sport
it had the hesitation beat a mile.
If you could show us how
we'll gladly learn it now.

I wonder why they never dance the Polka
It's old enough to be as good as new.
For fun there is no other dance above it
now don't you love it? We do.
Give me a lively girl who likes the polka
we'll drive these modern dances off the floor.
With one, two
One two three!
That's the dance for me
why don't they dance the Polka any more?

When Grandma was a gay young thing
and Grandpa was a boy,
to dance 'round in the Polka
was to them a thing of joy
and if they do the Tango
or the Maxixe I am sure
it is not for the dance
but for the rheumatism cure.
Just show us what to do,
to us it seems quite new.

I wonder why they never dance the Polka
It's old enough to be as good as new.
For fun there is no other dance above it
now don't you love it? We do.
Give me a lively girl who likes the polka
we'll drive these modern dances off the floor.
With one, two
One two three!
That's the dance for me
why don't they dance the Polka any more?

Soft karaoke
Words
piano 1
piano 2
piano 3
piano 4
lyric
pizz str bass
*
Why Don't They Dance The Polka? 1914 Kern
Music by Jerome Kern
Lyrics by Harry B. Smith
© MCMXIV by T.B.Harms & Francis, Day & Hunter  N.Y.
*
sequence and karaoke by James Pitt-Payne, London UK
on Wednesday 28 June 2006 at 10.48
in association with Doug Grierson
*