From the film “Cavalcade”, 1931.
Words and music by Noel Coward.
Sheet music provided by Nicholas Leunissen:
Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:
Lyrics
Why is it that civilised humanity
Can make this world so wrong?
In this hurly burly of insanity
Our dreams cannot last long
We’ve reach’d a deadline
A press headline ev’ry sorrow
Blues value is news value tomorrow
Refrain
Blues, twentieth century blues
Are getting me down
Who’s escap’d those dreary
Twentieth century blues?
Why, if there’s a god in the sky
Why shouldn’t he grin
High above this dreary
Twentieth century din?
In this strange illusion
Chaos and confusion
People seem to lose their way
What is there to strive for
Love or keep alive for?
Say hey! hey! call it a day
Blues, nothing to win or to lose
It’s getting me down
Who’s escap’d those dreary
Twentieth century blues?
Sung here by Vancha March: