a 1922 popular song
words and music by William J. Robertson
arranged by Veda E. Litchfield
The sheet music:
Accompaniment:
Lyrics
- In an empire far, far away, far beyond the western sea
A town I know called Tokio seems oh so queer to me
‘Tis the land of Jinrikasha, the little Nipponees live there
And all so queer, I have a fear their equals found no where
Yet a little maiden in that town, claims to be a friend of mine
She lives on rice and is so nice I really think her fine
When I was in old Tokio, I saw her every day
Although she’s queer she’s full of cheer, and charming in her way
Chorus
And beneath a hat of grass she wears a pretty smile
Yet she prays in mystic ways, in Oriental style
When she writes she makes a sight I cannot understand
The language of old, old Japan
- Then this girl in old Tokio cross from Yokohoma land
Wears woven shoes is slant-eyed, too, but so is all Japan
Has a score of dolls in her sleeve, and in her little bamboo lair
She has no chairs and no upstairs as one would find elsewhere
When she goes within her little home, she will leave her shoes outside
For everywhere ’tis custom there, to which one must abide
She sits down on the bamboo floor, is jolly with it, too
For jolly is the only way, where reigns the Mikado
Sung here by Fred Feild: