Open Up the Golden Gates to Dixieland

(and Let Me Into Paradise)
A popular song from 1919
Words by Jack Yellen
Music by Gus Van and Joe Schenck


The sheet music:


Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:


Lyrics

  1. I dreamed last night
    I was a choo-choo engineer
    I could hear whistles blowin’
    I was goin’ far from here
    It was queer to my surprise
    I saw Saint Peter on the track
    It’s a fact he said to me “Which way will it be?”
    And I just hollered back

Chorus
Open up the golden gates to Dixie
And let me in to Paradise
Don’t keep me waitin’
A little Angel down there
I don’t want to miss
She’s going to meet me
She’s goin’ to treat me
To a lot of heavenly bliss and when
I put my lovin’ arms around her
I’m goin’ to slip a wedding band upon her hand
Then give me time and you will see
A lot of little Angels that will look like me
Open up the golden gates to dear old Dixie land

  1. Saint Peter said, “Well, come ahead”
    I flew inside, almost cried
    When I saw my sweetie dressed up
    Like a bride at my side
    Parson said, “you two are wed”
    I kissed her then my Big Ben
    The darned old thing it started to ring
    And I woke up again

Sung here by Laurence Rubenstein: