In the Moonlight

Lyrics – Bud Green
Music – Charlie Pierce
Publisher – Al. Piantadosi & Co. Inc., New York, 1920

While strolling by the Nile,
There I caught the smile,
Of a Cairo maid.
In the moonlight, she,
Did a dance for me,
‘Neath an old palm tree,
While the tom toms played.
But I had to say goodbye,
Tho’ our hearts will sigh and yearn,
I know I will soon return.

Oh, Mystic Nile,
I’m longing all the while,
To be near, and hear,
Her love song.
‘Neath the palms,
I’ll hold her in my arms,
So sentimental,
Sweet Oriental,
Maid of the Mystic Nile.

There in the moonlight’s glare,
As she kneels in pray’r,
‘Neath the stars above,
I can hear her sigh,
To the gods on high,
“Won’t you please bring back,
Someone that I love?”
But she waits impatiently,
And she’s calling me to stay,
So I’m coming back someday.

Oh, Mystic Nile,
I’m longing all the while,
To be near, and hear,
Her love song.
‘Neath the palms,
I’ll hold her in my arms,
So sentimental,
Sweet Oriental,
Maid of the Mystic Nile.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Place I Want to Go

Lyrics – Arthur Freed
Music – Harold Weeks
Publisher – Sherman,Clay & Co., San Francisco

In that fair land of Egypt there is a town you know,
They call it old Cairo, that’s the place I want to go;
It’s the land of proud Cleo, who lived in luxury,
There’s a Cleo there for me, and her mark I’d gladly be.

Cairo, your streets are gaily laden, splendor entrancing.
Cairo, you have the sun-burned maiden famed for her dancing.
I know all the charms of dear old Cairo,
If you’d know just ask the Sphinx
What he thinks as he winks at old Cairo.

In that land of all ages where happy hours are spun,
There’s nearly all the fun that you’ll find beneath the sun;
In its quaint old cafes life is one eternal spree,
It’s a cocktail made of glee and that’s good enough for me.

Cairo, your streets are gaily laden, splendor entrancing.
Cairo, you have the sun-burned maiden famed for her dancing.
I know all the charms of dear old Cairo,
If you’d know just ask the Sphinx
What he thinks as he winks at old Cairo.

Snap Out of It

Lyrics – J. Will Callahan

Music – Lee S. Roberts

Publisher – Forster Music Publisher Inc., Chicago, 1919

Pale moonlight!
A wond’rous night!
My fancy takes its flight to Rainbow Isle;
Swaying trees, a truant breeze
All bring you to me just for a while.

Cleo, I see only you,
And the dream makes me lonesome and blue,
Brings back that moment divine
When I fancied your heart answered mine;
Cleo, ’twill be only you
And I’d give all this world if you knew,
Just how I’m yearning,
And wait your returning,
Come back to me,
My Cleo, do!

Some June night
Love’s magic light
May guide your boat aright to Rainbow Isle;
O’er the sea of memory
Sometime in the golden Afterwhile.

Cleo, I see only you,
And the dream makes me lonesome and blue,
Brings back that moment divine
When I fancied your heart answered mine;
Cleo, ’twill be only you
And I’d give all this world if you knew,
Just how I’m yearning,
And wait your returning,
Come back to me,
My Cleo, do!

My Egyptian Queen

Lyrics – Richard Carle

Music – Robert Hood Bowers

Publisher – M. Witmark & Sons, various locations

The Maid and the Mummy is the name of a musical comedy from 1904.  Unfortunately the song represented here is ‘I Fell in Love With Polly’, the lyrics of which have no reference to Egypt, and therefore are not transcribed for your reading pleasure.  

It is of interest to note the other song titles, as listed on the cover – only one has an Egyptian theme:

No Doubt You’d Like to Cuddle up to Baby
Whenever I Visit the Town
The Lion and the Lamb
It’s Great to be Crazy
Peculiar Julia
My Egyptian Queen
Dame Rumor
Flo
Maggie Got Another Situation
I’m So Dizzy
Letters
Sad Experiences
My Gasoline Automobile

What a Whopper

Lyrics – Curtis A. Duval
Music – Curtis A. Duval
Publisher – Will Rossiter, Chicago - 1906

The Pyramids of Egypt have occasioned lots of talk
because no one can say who put them there.
Sampson’s hand, ‘tis said, was in it, but it wasn’t for a minute,
he had trouble of his own elsewhere.
I’ll tell you how it came about, but don’t allow the truth to out,
or else I might be thought a pelf.
On a winter’s night in June when the sun obscured the moon,
 I stole out there and put them up myself.

I’m the kid that built the Pyramid, I’m the kid, (He’s the kid,)
And I am sure it is about the greatest thing I ever did, (He ever did,)
I put it up in just a single night, with the stars above my only light,
I’m the kid that built the Pyramid, (He’s the kid,)

I built the Sphynx and put her on her throne out in the desert
and I caused the River Nile to flow.
Forty thousand barrels, to a dot, of sweat I lost, it was so hot,
a working on that old scarecrow.
And now my perspiration travels over all creation,
for the River Nile is it – you see.
If you’re asked who built the ark, don’t say me, I ain’t that mark,
 but credit just the Pyramids to me.

refrain

I built the tow’r of Babel and it was a “bummy” job,
but then I had a “tide” aboard that day.
I constructed it lopsided, which the Natives much derided
and with jeers they drove me far away.
My courage nigh forsook me when that gang of Arabs shook me
in the desert – wasn’t that a plight?
But an inspiration came, to perpetuate my name -
I raised the mighty Pyramids that night.

refrain