[1st verse:]
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Old man Rosenthal lay sick in bed
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Soon the doctor came around and said
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"No use crying, the man is dying. He can't live very long!"
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"Send my son here to my side," they heard the old man say
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"I've got something to tell him before I pass away"
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Soon his son was sitting by his bed
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"What's the matter, Papa dear?" he said
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The old man said, "My son, before my days are done
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I want you to know:
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[Refrain:]
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Cohen owes me ninety-seven dollars
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And it's up to you to see that Cohen pays
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I sold a lot of goods to Rosenstein and Sons
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On an I.O.U. for ninety days
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Levi brothers don't get any credit
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They owe me for one hundred yards of lace
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If you promise me, my son, you'll collect from ev'ry one
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I can die with a smile on my face"
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[2nd verse:]
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Old man Rosenthal is better now
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He just simply wouldn't die somehow
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He is healthy and very wealthy since he got out of bed
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Such a change you never saw, he's got such rosy cheeks
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He picks up in just one week what should take weeks and weeks
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Ev'ryone who knew that he was sick
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Couldn't tell how he got well so quick
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They went and asked him to explain how he pulled through
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Rosenthal replied:
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[2nd refrain:]
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Cohen owed me ninety-seven dollars
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And my son went out and made poor Cohen pay
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A bill was owed to me by Rosenstein and Sons
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And they settled on that very day
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What could my son do with all that money
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If I should leave it all and say goodbye?
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It's all right to pass away, but when people start to pay
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That's no time for a bus'nessman to die
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-----------------
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Cohen Owes Me Ninety-Seven Dollars
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| Irving Berlin |
