From the 1939 film “The Star Maker”.
Words by Johnny Burke.
Music by James V. Monaco.
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:
Lyrics
You’re sophisticated, I am too naive
Well, let’s play the game that way
If that’s what you believe
Chorus
An apple for the teacher
That seems the thing to do
Because I want to learn
About romance from you
An apple for the teacher
To show I’m meek and mild
If you insist on saying that
I’m just a problem child
You’ll get all my attention
Your wish will be my rule
And maybe you’ll be good to me
And keep me after school
An apple for the teacher
That’s how I’d better start
Then after while you may give in
And let me bring my heart
Chorus
An apple for the teacher
Will always do the trick
When you don’t know your lesson
In arithmetic
An apple for the teacher
Will meet with great success
If you forgot to memorize
The Gettysburg address
A little bit of glamour
A charm that’s cute and quaint
And he’ll excuse your grammar
And believe you’re what you ain’t
You may be just a lemon
But he’ll think you’re a peach
Just bring an apple for the teacher
When he starts to teach
Sung here by Fred Feild: