A 1923 popular song.
Words and music by James Kendis and Lew Brown.
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:
Lyrics
- A rah rah rah rah college boy
Threw all his books away
He said, “I’ve lost my appetite
My hair is turning gray
I know my Greek and history
And Latin is a pie
But if East is East and West is West
Then won’t you tell me why”
Chorus
When it’s night-time in Italy
It’s Wednesday over here
When it’s fish day in Germany
You can’t get shaved in Massachusetts
How high is up I’d like to know
How low is down
And when will we have snow
If you bump into Gallagher
You’ll find tht Shean is near
When it’s night-time in Italy
It’s Wednesday over here
- This rah rah rah rah college boy
Stood up in class and said
“I looked up my geography
And found that Shakespeare’s dead
The reason I speak Portugese
Is I’m some clever guy
But if ‘Parly Voo’ means ‘How are you’
Then won’t you tell me why
Chorus
When it’s night-time in Italy
It’s Wednesday over here
Oh the onions in Sicily
Make people cry in California
You drive a horse, I drive a Ford
That doesn’t prove a sailor is aboard
If you talk to an Eskimo
His breath will freeze your ear
When it’s night-time in Italy
It’s Wednesday over here
(extra choruses are on the sheet music)
Sung here by Laurence Rubenstein: