From the 1950 film “Call Me Madam”.
Words and music by Irving Berlin.
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:
Lyrics
Square dance
The Washington Square dance
Republicans make up with the Democrats
Show those foreign diplomats
That you dare dance
The Washington Square dance
No matter which side you’re on
Or where you stand
Take your partner by the hand
And each pair dance
The Washington Square dance
The theme is a get-together policy
Show our friends across the sea
It’s a fair dance
The Washington Square dance
The rules are the same as cricket, golf or squash
No fair cheating ’cause
The Washington Square dance is square
Patter
Bow to your partners, bow to your corners
Dance till your cheeks are red as a rose
But try not to step on McCarty’s toes
Now, duck for the oyster, dig for the clam
Duck for the oyster, dig for the clam
But do your diggin’ for Uncle Sam
And one for the money, two for the show
One for the money, two for the show
And three to get ready for Uncle Joe
Republicans over to the right
Democrats over to the left
The left meet the right and don’t explode
Try to find the middle of the road and
Square dance
The Washington Square dance
Republicans make up with the Democrats
Show those foreign diplomats
That you dare dance
The Washington Square dance
No matter which side you’re on
Or where you stand
Take your partner by the hand
And each pair dance
The Washington Square dance
The theme is a get-together policy
Show our friends across the sea
It’s a square dance
The Washington Square dance
Be careful, you’ll have to watch your step, by gosh!
No round heels because
The Washington Square dance is square
Sung here by Laurence Rubenstein: