A popular song from 1908
Words and music by Irving Berlin
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:
Lyrics
- What’s that you say? No work today?
Done lost your job? Where is your pay?
Been shooting dice? That’s very nice
Needn’t apologize, I’m cold as ice
Pack up your clothes, Lord only knows
You’ve been the cause of my troubles and woes
Don’t ask me why, too late to cry
Just bid yourself goodbye
Chorus
A friend in need is a friend indeed
That’s just the kind of friend I’ve been to you
When poverty smiled down on thee
I hung around and stuck like glue
It’s a long long lane that has no turn
You can never tell your finish when you start
But when you find you can’t make both ends meet
Then the best of friends must part
- Don’t talk of love, just like a dove
Can’t eat the stars that shine above
That stuff don’t go, you’d better blow
Can’t buy a meal with that lovin’ you know
I know it’s hard on your old pard
But I can’t help that you played your last card
Don’t hesitate, evaporate
Hunt up another mate
Sung here by Laurence Rubenstein: