My youth was spent in the Orient

where they never taught me to waltz

You'd be surprised when I exercised

it was never done to a waltz!

It was "done" like this . . .

but never to a waltz!



In ancient Siam, women like I am

indoors or on the street . . .

No woman . . . dances with her feet!

Egyptian, Persian, only one version

no other stands a chance,

feet are for walking,

not for dance!



To an oriental fiddle,

you can see them shake their middle,

the feet don't mean a thing

middles are all they swing!



Even an Egyptian "mummy"

wiggles her tummy

wiggles it so an' so

that is the only dance ! know!







You don't need an Arthur Murray

just a fringe that's on the surrey

will satisfy your needs

dancing between the beads!



Everybody shake your torso

sexy but more-so,

shake it, come on, let's go . . .

Let's do the only dance I know!



Words and Music by Irving Berlin