The Carioca

- words by Gus Kahn, music by Vincent Youmans and Edward Eliscu

- Academy Award-winning song from the 1933 RKO movie "Flying Down To Rio"

(the first screen pairing of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers)

- as recorded in New York, April 27, 1934, by New Orleans-born vocalist

Connie Boswell (1907-1976) with Victor Young & his Orchestra



Say, have you seen a Carioca?

It's not a foxtrot or a polka

It has a little bit of new rhythm, a blue rhythm that sighs



It has a meter that is tricky

A bit of wicked wacky-wicky

But when you dance it with a new love, there's a true love in her eye



You dream of a new Carioca

Its theme is a kiss and a sigh

You dream of a new Carioca

When music and lights are gone we say goodbye



Two heads together, they say are better than one

Two heads together, that's how the dance is begun

Two arms around you and lips, that's why I'm yours and you are mine

And you are mine



Now that you've done the Carioca

You'll never care to do the Polka

And then you'll realize the blue hula and bamboola are through



Tomorrow morning you'll discover

You're just a Carioca lover

And when you dance it with each new love, there'll be true love just for you



Now you'll dream of a new Carioca

Its theme is a kiss and a sigh

You'll dream of a new Carioca

When music and lights are gone and we're saying goodbye

Goodbye