A popular song from 1911
Words and music by Irving Berlin
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:
Lyrics
- I no rave about Italy
I no talk about my country
Any place is the same to me
Just so long I got enough to eat
But I’d like-a to tell you dis
I’m-a kiss-a da plenty miss
But of all-a da sweet-a kiss
There’s-a one got the world-a beat
Chorus:
When you kiss an Italian gal, boss
Oh! you feel-a
Well, I don’t know how to tell-a
But you get so excite
You go home that night
And put your left-a shoe
Upon the foot what is right
Let an Italian gal, boss
Kiss-a you upon the cheek
And you won’t wash your face
For a long-a time
‘Cause it feel-a so swell
When you kiss an Italian gal
- My sweetheart-a look like a freak
Got a face-a just like next week
But the minute I kiss the cheek
Right away she look like Anna Hel’
Married men, if you got da strife
You can lead-a da happy life
Ev’ry time that you kiss your wife
Think of an Italian-a gal
Chorus:
When you kiss an Italian gal, boss
Oh! you feel-a
Well, I don’t know how to tell-a
But before much-a long
You feel-a so strong
You go and choke da monk
Until he sing-a da song
Let an Italian gal, boss
Kiss-a you upon the cheek
And you won’t wash your face
For a long-a time
‘Cause it feel-a so swell
When you kiss an Italian gal
Sung here by Laurence Rubenstein: