[1st verse:]
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The diff'rent lays of nowadays
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All set my brain a whirl
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They're not the kind of songs they sang
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When mother was a girl
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Your spoony rags and coony drags
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All made my poor heart ache
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Bring back the rhymes of olden times
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And just for old times sake
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[Refrain:]
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Won't you play a simple melody
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Like my mother sang to me
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One with good old fashioned harmony
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Play a simple melody
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[2nd verse:]
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In days of yore, before the war
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When hearts now old were young
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At home each night by firelight
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Those dear old songs were sung
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Sweet melodies, their memories
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Around my heart still cling
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That's why I long to hear a song
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Like mother used to sing
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[Rag Verse:]
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I don't care for longhaired musicians
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With their classy melodies
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They have lots of highbrow ambitions
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But their music doesn't please
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Give me something snappy and popular
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The kind that darkies play
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Lots of rhythm
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And I go with 'em
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That's why I say
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[Rag Refrain:]
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Musical Demon
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Set your honey a-dreamin'
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Won't you play me some rag
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Just change that classical nag
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To some sweet beautiful drag
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If you will play from a copy
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Of a tune that is choppy
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You'll get all my applause
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And that is simply because
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I want to listen to rag
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[The two refrains are sung in counterpoint]
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-----------------
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Play A Simple Melody
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| Irving Berlin |
