By Irving Berlin1929
This one has gone through quite a transformation over the years. Written for the 1930 musical film of the same name, in which it was introduced by Harry Richman, it was originally about poor blacks in Harlem who "put on the Ritz", or pretended to be affluent--a reference to the Ritz Hotel. When Fred Astaire sang it six years later, Berlin had changed the lyrics to pertain to affluent whites. It was featured to great comedic effect in Mel Brooks' 1974 picture Young Frankenstein. And a decade after that, Dutch singer Taco scored a #4 hit on the charts with his synth-pop cover, making the 95-year-old Berlin the oldest songwriter to ever have a charted hit.
Lyrics:
[Original version:]
Have you seen the well-to-do
Up on Lenox Avenue?
On that famous thoroughfare,
With their noses in the air?
High hats and colored collars,
White spats and fifteen dollars.
Spending every dime
For a wonderful time.
If you're blue and you don't know where to go to,
Why don't you go where Harlem sits?
Puttin' on the Ritz.
Spangled gowns upon a bevy of high browns
From down the levee, all misfits,
Puttin' on the Ritz.
That's where each and every lulubelle goes
Ev'ry Thursday evening with her swell beaus,
Rubbing elbows.
Come with me and we'll attend their jubilee,
And see them spend their last two bits.
Puttin' on the Ritz.
[Revised version:]
Have you seen the well-to-do
Up and down Park Avenue?
On that famous thoroughfare,
With their noses in the air?
High hats and Arrow collars,
White spats and lots of dollars.
Spending every dime
For a wonderful time.
If you're blue, and you don't know where to go to,
Why don't you go where fashion sits?
Puttin' on the Ritz.
Diff'rent types who wear a day coat, pants with stripes,
And cutaway coat, perfect fits.
Puttin' on the Ritz.
Dressed up like a million dollar trouper,
Trying hard to look like Gary Cooper--
Super duper!
Come, let's mix where Rockefellers walk with sticks,
Or um-ber-ellas in their mitts.
Puttin' on the Ritz.
Recorded By:
Ella Fitzgerald
Benny Goodman
Judy Garland
Fred Astaire
Taco
Posts
