A popular song from 1928.
Words and music by Frank Crumit and Lou Klein.
Sheet music provided by Nicholas Leunissen:
Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:
Lyrics
- I am a gay Caballero
Coming from Rio Janiero
With nice oily hair
And full of hot air
I’m an expert at shooting the bull-o - I’m seeking a fair Senorita
Not thin and yet not too much meat-a
I’ll woo her a while
In my Argentine style
I’ll carry her off of her feet-a - I’ll tell her I’m of the Nobillio
And live in a great big Castillio
I must have a miss
Who’ll long for a kiss
And not say oh don’t be so sillio - ‘Twas at a swell caberetta
While wining and dining I met her
We drank one or two
As other folks do
The night was wet but she was wetter - She told me her name was Estrella
She said stick around me young fella
Mosquitos they bite
They’re awful tonight
And you smell just like citronella - I can’t forget that Senora
While telling her how I adore her
Asleep she did fall
Didn’t mind that at all
But she was a terrible snorer - She was a dancer and singer
At me she kept pointing her finger
And saying to me
Si Signor, Si, Si
But I couldn’t see a durn thing-a - She told me she was so lonely
So I climbed upon her balcony
While under her spell
I heard someone yell
Get away from her you big balony - I swore I’d win this Senorita
I wooed her upon the sofita
Then her husband walked in
What he did was a sin
I can still hear the birds sing tweet tweet-a - I am a sad caballero
I’m now back in Rio Janiero
Minus my hair
A bruise here and there
And her husband he chewed off my ear-o