From the musical “Up and Down Broadway”, 1910
Words by Irving Berlin
Music by Ted Snyder
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:
Lyrics
- Ev’ryone talk-a how they make-a da love
Call-a da sweet-a name-a like-a da dove
It makes me sick-a when they start in to speak-a
‘Bout the moon ‘way up above
What’s-a da use to have-a big-a da moon?
What’s-a da use to call-a dove?
If he no like-a she, and she no like-a he
The moon can’t make them love, But
Chorus
Sweet Italian love
Nice Italian love
You don’t need the moon-a-light
Your love to tell her
In da house or on da roof or in da cellar
Dat’s Italian love
Sweet Italian love
When you kiss-a your pet
And it’s-a like-a spagett
Dat’s Italian love!
[2nd verse:]
Ev’ryone say they like da moon-a da light
There’s one-a man up in da moon all-a right
But he no tell-a that some other nice feller
Was-a kiss your gal last night
Maybe you give your gal da wedding-a ring
Maybe you marry, like-a me
Maybe you love your wife, maybe for all your life
But dat’s only maybe, But
Chorus
Sweet Italian love
Nice Italian love
When you squeeze your gal
And she no say “Please stop-a!”
When you got dat twenty kids
What call you “Papa!”
Dat’s Italian love
Sweet Italian love
When you kiss one-a time
And it’s-a feel like-a nine
Dat’s Italian love
Sung here by Laurence Rubenstein: