The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #24509   Message #2145065
Posted By: Jim Dixon
09-Sep-07 - 10:44 PM
Thread Name: Lyr Req: Second Hand Rose (from Fanny Brice)
Subject: Lyr Add: SECOND HAND ROSE (Clarke, Hanley)
Here's my transcription from the sheet music at the Levy Collection:

SECOND HAND ROSE
Words, Grant Clarke. Music, James F. Hanley.
New York : Shapiro, Bernstein & Co., 1921.
Sung by Fanny Brice in The Ziegfeld Follies of 1921.

VERSE 1: Father has a bus'ness, strictly second-hand,
Ev'rything from toothpicks to a baby grand.
Stuff in our apartment came from father's store.
Even things I'm wearing someone wore before.
It's no wonder that I feel abused.
I never have a thing that ain't been used.

CHORUS 1: I'm wearing second-hand hats, second-hand clothes.
That's why they call me Second-Hand Rose.
Even our piano in the parlor
Father bought for ten cents on the dollar.
Second-hand pearls, I'm wearing second-hand curls.
I never get a single thing that's new.
Even Jake the plumber--he's the man I adore--
He had the nerve to tell me he's been married before!
Everyone knows that I'm just Second-Hand Rose
From Second Avenue!

VERSE 2: Each one in the fam'ly kicks the whole day long.
Ev'ryone's disgusted. Ev'rything is wrong.
Second-handed doggie, second-handed cat,
Second-handed welcome, second-handed mat.
I think father's head is made of wood.
He brings home lots of things that ain't no good.

CHORUS 2: Second-hand shoes, second-hand hose,
All the girls hand me their second-hand beaux.
Even my pajamas when I don 'em
Have somebody else's 'nitials on 'em.
Second-hand rings, I'm sick of second-hand things.
I never get what other girlies do.
Once while strolling through the Ritz a girl got my goat.
She nudged her friend and said, "Oh, look! There's my old fur coat!"
Everyone knows that I'm just Second-Hand Rose
From Second Avenue!