From the 1924 show “Chauve Souris”.
Words by L. Wolfe Gilbert.
Music by Richard Fall.
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:
Lyrics
- Oh Heinie sailed from Rotterdam
He stopped off first at Amsterdam
To meet his bride
Then side by side, they took the ride
Across the sea to Yankee Land
He furnished up a flat so grand
And there she sat
So big and fat, down at their flat
One night he took his wifie out
They went to see the Follies
He thought that she was such a queen
Until he saw those Dollies
When they got home he shook his head
Then to his wife, he turned and said
Chorus
O Katharina, oh, Katharina
To keep my love, you must be leaner
There’s so much of you
“Two” could love you
Learn to swim, join a gym
Eat farina, O Katharina
Unless you’re leaner
I’ll have to build a big arena
You’re such a crowd, my Katherine
I got a lot when I got you
- Oh Heinie wrote to Rotterdam
And all their friends in Amsterdam
How things were here
About his dear, been gone a year
He said, “My darling’s losing weight
She’s thinner now and up-to-date
I must confess
The way they dress, she’s wearing less”
“At home we thought a girl was fine
If she was fat and plumpy
But here a girl must never look
A trifle short and dumpy”
“You should have seen my Katherine
‘Most ev’ry day I had to say
Chorus
O Katharina, oh, Katharina
To keep my love, you must be leaner
Your waist is six feet
That’s from Pigs’ feet
Sauerkraut, cut it out
Eat farina, O Katharina
Dance and get leaner
I’ll learn to jazz my concertina
Then we can dance that “Bambaline”
I got a lot when I got you
Sung here by Fred Feild: