O Katharina!

From the 1924 show “Chauve Souris”.
Words by L. Wolfe Gilbert.
Music by Richard Fall.


The sheet music:


Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:


Lyrics

  1. 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

  1. 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: