From the 1947 show “Easter Parade”.
Words and music by Irving Berlin.
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:
Lyrics
- We’re a couple of swells
We stop at the best hotels
But we prefer the country
Far away from the city smells
We’re a couple of sports
The pride of the tennis courts
In June, July, and August
We look cute when we’re dressed in shorts
The Vanderbilts have asked us up for tea
We don’t know how to get there, no siree
Chorus
We would drive up the Avenue
But we haven’t got the price
We would skate up the Avenue
But there isn’t any ice
We would ride on a bicycle
But we haven’t got a bike
So we’ll walk up the Avenue
Yes, we’ll walk up the Avenue
And to walk up the Avenue ‘swhat we like
- Wall Street Bankers are we
With plenty of currency
W’ed open up the safe
But we forgot where we put the key
We’re the favorite lads
Of girls in the picture ads
We’d like to tell you
Who we kissed last night
But we can’t be cads
The Vanderbilts are waiting at the club
But how are we to get there
That’s the rub
Chorus
We would sail up the Avenue
But we haven’t got a yacht
We would drive up the Avenue
But the horse we had was shot
We would ride on a trolly car
But we haven’t got the fare
So we’ll walk up the Avenue
Yes, we’ll walk up the Avenue
Yes we’ll walk up the Avenue ’til we’re there
Sung here by Vancha March: