A 1919 popular song.
Words and music by Jack Yellen and Milton Ager.
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:
Lyrics
1. Taxes here and there, taxes everywhere
Taxes every place that they can be
Tho’ I’m getting by, still I can’t deny
There’s a tax I know would ruin me
I wrote my Congressman a note
I said, “If you want my vote”
Chorus
“Don’t put a tax on the beautiful girls
How can I live without love?
You can tax my business and all that I own
But have a little pity, leave my pleasure alone
What’ll I do on a beautiful night
If I should happen to fall?
Suppose that I’m about to kiss a beautiful maid
What if she discovers that my tax isn’t paid?
Don’t put a tax on the beautiful girls
Or I won’t get any lovin’ at all”
2. Every cent I make, tax collectors take
They don’t leave me with a single dime
I can get along, without wine or song
But I need the girlies all the time
They’re not a luxury with me
They’re a great necessity
Chorus
“Don’t put a tax on the beautiful girls
How can I live without love?
You can tax my soda, I’ll pay it somehow
But don’t you think the price of chicken’s high enough now?
What’ll I do on a beautiful night
If I should happen to fall?
But if you have to put a tax on beautiful “vamps”
Let me be the guy who goes around with the stamps
Don’t put a tax on the beautiful girls
Or I won’t get any lovin’ at all”
Sung here by Fred Feild: