The lyrics below are from the sheet music at Baylor University. (There is another copy at York University.) Compare these with the version sung by the Happiness Boys, posted above.


SHE KNOWS HER ONIONS
Words and music by Jack Yellen, Milton Ager, and Lew Pollack, ©1926.

1. “Just been down to New York town,” said Hezekiah Green.
“Betcha can’t guess who
I ran into on the avenue.
You know Sal, the Perkins gal who was the village queen?
Boys, I’m here to tell
The gal’s done mighty well.”

CHORUS: She’s got this and she’s got that.
She knows her onions.
A Packard car and ten-room flat.
She knows her onions.
She’s just a farmer’s daughter brought up in Ioway,
But father never taught her the things she knows today.
She knows her Spanish onions.
She knows her baby talk.
She hasn’t any bunions.
She don’t get out and walk.
(Ah!)
She’s got mink and sable fur.
She’s the blonde that men prefer,
Just a gal who knows her onions.

2. Well, by gum, they called her dumb back in the village school.
They said she was thick
In geography and arithmetic.
You should see her jewelry; you’d know that she’s no fool,
Knows a thing or two
Her teacher never knew.

CHORUS: She’s got diamonds in her ears.
She knows her onions.
You ought to see her lavalieres.
She knows her onions.
This simple country maiden from fields of new-mown hay,
You should see her paradin’ along the gay white way.
She stays out after ‘leven
Right in the city whirl,
‘Cause she believes that heaven
Protects the working girl.
(Ah!)
She knows when and where to go,
When to “yes” and when to “no.”
She’s a gal who knows her onions.