My Youth Was Spent In The Orient
Where They Never Taught Me To Waltz
You'd Be Surprised When I Exercised
It Was Never Done To A Waltz!
It Was "done" Like This . . .
But Never To A Waltz!

In Ancient Siam, Women Like I Am
Indoors Or On The Street . . .
No Woman . . . Dances With Her Feet!
Egyptian, Persian, Only One Version
No Other Stands A Chance,
Feet Are For Walking,
Not For Dance!

To An Oriental Fiddle,
You Can See Them Shake Their Middle,
The Feet Don't Mean A Thing
Middles Are All They Swing!

Even An Egyptian "mummy"
Wiggles Her Tummy
Wiggles It So An' So
That Is The Only Dance ! Know!



You Don't Need An Arthur Murray
Just A Fringe That's On The Surrey
Will Satisfy Your Needs
Dancing Between The Beads!

Everybody Shake Your Torso
Sexy But More-so,
Shake It, Come On, Let's Go . . .
Let's Do The Only Dance I Know!

Words And Music By Irving Berlin