From “She Knows Better Now”, 1912
Words and music by Irving Berlin
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:
Lyrics
- Honey dear, honey dear
Can’t you hear that ragtime mocking bird?
Lend an ear, lend an ear
To the dearest notes you ever have heard
Here’s the man, here’s the man
Here’s the man who owns that mocking bird
Hear him yell that he’d sell it for a dollar bill
Yes he will, yes he will
Chorus:
Honey, won’t you buy for me
That ragtime mocking bird?
Just open up your pocketbook
Can’t you hear me holler?
Pay the man a dollar
Honey, if you buy for me
That ragtime mocking bird
I’ll call you names like King Louis the Third
If you buy for me that ragtime mocking bird
- Honey dove, honey dove
Don’t you love that feathered Tetrazzin?
Ev’ry note in her throat
Is a boat chock’d full of peaches and cream
If your heart cares for art
Better part with that one dollar bill
Honey, why don’t you buy that bird
And keep me still?
Say you will, say you will
Sung here by Laurence Rubenstein: