Swanee (Live)

Swanee, how I love you, how I love you
My dear old Swanee
The folks up North will see me no more
When I get to that Swanee shore

Thank you, thank you very much
I can't express it any other way
For with this awful trembling in my heart
I just can't find another thing to say
I'm happy that you liked the show
I'm grateful you liked me
And I'm sure to you the tribute seemed quite right

But if you knew of all the years
Of hopes and dreams and tears
You'd know it didn't happen overnight
Overnight

I was born in a trunk, in the Princess Theater in Pocatello, Idaho
It was during a matinee on Friday
And they used to make a towel for my daddy
When I first saw the light it was pink and amber
Coming from the footlights on the stage
When my dad carried me up there to say: Hello
They tell me that I stopped the show

So I grew up in a crazy world of dressing rooms and hotel rooms
And waiting rooms and rooms behind the scenes
And I can't forget the endless rows of sleepless nights and eatless nights
And nights without a nickel in my jeans

But it's all in the game and the way you play it
And you gotta play the game you know
When you're born in a trunk in the Princess Theatre in Pocatello, Idaho

At first I just stood and watched from the wings
That's all my mom and dad would allow
But as I got older, I got a little bolder and snuck out for their second bout
They kept me in the act because they needed me to milk applause
Until one night they did a crazy thing
They left out there all alone
Mama said: You're on your own and Papa shouted This is it, kid, sing

I'll get by as long as I have you
Thought there'll be rain and darkness too
I'll not complain, I'll see it through

I learned very quickly the tricks of the trade
I practiced after everyone was gone
And with the tricks I learned traditions
And the hardest one of all is no matter what the show must go on

As time went by, I looked for jobs
And was kicked from pillar to post
I haunted all the agents offices
And I almost ended up a ghost

I'm a sentimental sap, that's all
What's the use of trying not to fall
I have no will, you made your kill
'Cause you took advantage of me

No

I'm just like an apple on the bough
And you gonna shake me down somehow
So what's the use, you cooked my goose
'Cause you took advantage of me

No

I'm so hot and bothered that I don't know
My elbow from my ear
I suffer something awful each time you go
And much worse when you're near
Here am I with all my bridges burned
Just a babe in arms, where you're concerned
So lock the doors, call me yours
'Cause you took advantage of me

Yes
No

So I got into a tap show
All I did was kick my feet
You'd hardly call it a chance to sing
But at least it was a chance to eat

They call it Black Bottom
A new wisher, a sure galoon, an old sister
They clap their hands and do the raggedy trot, hot
Old fellows with flamenco
And young fellows the way they go
They jump right in and give it all that they've got

Then one night something happened
Dame fortune showed her face
The star got sick and I was told to go on in her place
But she recovered
Oh, well

Black bottom, a new rhythm
When you spot'em, you go with'em
And do that black, black, black, black bottom
You won't be blue when you have got'em
If you do that black, black, black, black bottom all day

But finally I got an offer to sing in New York
And I wired I'm on my way
I had visions that this would be
A fabulous, famous cafe
Filled with high society
Elegant and spruce
And I pictured me, the epitome
Of a very chic chanteuse

Through every city, town, and country lane
You'll hear him sing his
Plaintive little strain
And as he goes by, to you he'll say

The little children like to trail along
They like to hear the peanut vendor's song
They all laugh with glee when he will say

Come to me my melancholy baby
Cuddle up and don't be blue
All your fears are foolish fancies, maybe
You know dear, that I'm in love with you
Every cloud must have a silver lining
Wait until the Sun shines through
Smile my honey, dear
While I kiss away each tear
Or else I shall be melancholy too

My benefactor appeared with his card
And at first, I thought he was fresh
Huh, fresh?
He was fresh from heaven all right
He produced the show that gave me the chance
To sing for you tonight

Swanee, how I love you, how I love you
My dear old Swanee
I'd give the world to be among the folks in
D-I-X-I-E-ven now my mammy's waiting for me
Praying for me, down by the Swanee
The folks up north will see me no more
When I get to that Swanee shore
Swanee, Swanee, I'm coming back to Swanee
Mammy, mammy, I love the old folks at home

I love ya Swanee
How I love you, how I love you
My dear old Swanee
I'd give the world if I could only be
Sitting on my mammy's knee
I love the old folks, I love the young folks
Oh my bunny, let me love ya more than Alabamy
Mammy, mammy, my dear old mammy
You wandering child will wander no more
When I get to that Swanee shore

So I can't quite be called overnight sensation
For it started many years ago
When I was born in a trunk at the Princess Theatre
In Pocatello, Idaho