[WARNING: This song contains antiquated racial stereotypes. It is presented here for historical and educational purposes only.]
Won’t you play a simple melody
A 1914 popular song.
Words and music by Irving Berlin.
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:
Lyrics
1. The diff’rent lays of nowadays
All set my brain a-whirl
They’re not the kind of songs they sang
When mother was a girl
Your spoony rags and coony drags
All made my poor heart ache
Bring back the rhymes of olden times
And just for old times sake
Chorus
Won’t you play a simple melody
Like my mother sang to me
One with good old fashioned harmony
Play a simple melody
Rag Version
Musical Demon, set your honey a dreamin’
Won’t you play me some rag
Just change that classical nag
To some sweet beautiful drag
If you will play from a copy of a tune that is choppy
You’ll get all my applause
And that is simply because
I want to listen to Rag
2. In days of yore, before the war
When hearts now old were young
At home each night by firelight
Those dear old songs were sung
Sweet melodies their memories
Around my heart still cling
That’s why I long to hear a song
Like mother used to sing
Sung here by Fred Feild: