a 1934 popular song
words by Joe Young and Charles Newman
music by Gerald Marks
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:
Lyrics
- Living in a wonderland like Alice
Our heroine had never known a care
But soon she came to understand her palace
Was nothing but a castle in the air
Chorus
Poor girl! Poor girl!
She was dreaming of a prince, a duke or earl
But she fell one night in summer
For a checkered-vested drummer
Such is life, poor girl!
Poor girl! poor girl!
Dreamed of diamonds and a bracelet set in pearl
But the solitaire he bought ‘er
Sells at Macy’s for a quarter
Such is life, poor girl!
Petals fall and roses die
And dreams must say “Goodbye”
Poor girl! Poor girl!
Dreamed of sables and a coat of mink or squirr’l
‘Stead of gowns with fancy stitchin’
She wears aprons in the kitchen
Oh, the poor, poor girl!
- In her dreams the noblemen pursued her
A count, a baron and a gay marquis
How sad to wake and find the one who wooed her
Was of the East Side aristocracy
Chorus
Poor girl! Poor girl!
She has ev’rything to live for in the world
Though her suitor is a broker
She prefers a “suit and cloaker”
Oh, the poor rich girl
Poor girl! poor girl!
Has the diamonds and the bracelet set in pearl
But a ring that cost a quarter
Means more than the gems he bought ‘er
Such is life, poor girl!
Petals fall and roses die
And dreams must say “Goodbye”
Poor girl! Poor girl!
Has the sables and a coat that’s made of squirr’l
‘Stead of Paris gowns, she’s itchin’
For an apron in the kitchen
Oh, the poor, poor girl!
Sung here by Laurence Rubenstein: