A popular song from 1921
Words by Roy Turk and J. Russel Robinson
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:
Lyrics
- Miss Desdemone sat all alone
Down at her home, all the day
She kept singing the blues
Poor Miss Desdemone
Daddies she could get
But they’d leave her cryin’
To catch ’em in her net
She was always tryin’
When they would leave her
How it would grieve her
She’d sadly moan
Chorus
“I’ve got those turtle-dovin’
Those warm-as-oven
But can’t-get-lovin’ blues
Seems each man I love don’t care for me
Why must it be?
Just when I love one and think he is mine
Some other fish takes the bait off my line
When it comes to looks and style, I know
I’ve got ’em beat a mile
I’ve got those ‘try-to please-’em
But for no reason I can’t get squeezin’ blues
Every beau I always seem to lose
So what’s the use?
They think just as much of poor me
As a yaller dog thinks of a flea
I’ve got those warm-as-oven
But can’t-get-lovin’ blues”
- Miss Desdemone so blue had grown
She didn’t care, if she lived
Didn’t care if she died
Poor Miss Desdemone
Just to get a beau, she was always schemin’
But when they’d answer “no”
There’d be tears and screamin’
When jewels and dresses
Brought no successes
Once more she’d moan
Chorus
“I’ve got those turtle-dovin’
Those warm-as-oven
But can’t-get-lovin’ blues
Somehow to the boys I don’t appeal
How bad I feel
If I were crippled or had a glass eye
I’d understand why they all pass me by
If someone don’t fondly me
I’ll throw myself into the sea
I’ve got those real heartachy
Those always fake me
And then they shake me blues
My good nature they love to abuse
With some excuse
I’d love a ragdoll if I could
‘Cause I’m not made of marble or wood
I’ve got those warm-as-oven
But can’t-get-lovin’ blues”
Sung here by Laurence Rubenstein: