MY CANARY HAS CIRCLES UNDER HIS EYES
Words by Ted Kohler & Edward Pola, music by Jack Golden, ©1931.

All links go to YouTube. All these recordings were made in 1931.

I. As recorded by Marion Harris with Billy Mason and His Cafe de Paris Band.

This old world is slipping fast.
How much longer can we last?
Have we gone completely off our dome?
With this modernistic stuff,
I'm through; I've had enough.
I'm so worried now since it hit home.

Since making whoopee became all the rage,
It's even gotten to the old birdcage
And my canary has circles under his eyes.
He used to whistle "The Prisoner's Song."
Now he does snakehips the whole night long.
My canary has circles under his eyes.
Now there was a time he was satisfied
To flit among the flowers,
But now, when I let him out, he'll hide
Up in a tree for hours.
Instead of taking a much-needed rest,
He's flying out to some sparrow's nest.
My canary has circles under his eyes.

He has no girlfriend that I'm certain of,
But he sings “What’s This Thing Called Love?”
My canary has circles under his eyes.
Birds of a feather, the old story goes,
But love is something nobody knows.
My canary has circles under his eyes.
Now maybe he's worried, the little lamb.
He always looks so solemn.
I wonder if he is in a jam.
I'll look in Swaffer's column.
He won't eat his birdseed; it's really a sin.
He won't sing a thing without his cup of gin.
My canary has circles under his eyes.

II. Elsie Carlisle sings a different intro:

All this world is up to date.
Even children stay up late.
Things are not just what they used to be.
All this world is off its nut,
Going crazy, nothing but.
Just get this earful from me.

III. Al Bowlly with Howard Godfrey's Waldorfians sings a different intro and first verse:

Mister pressman, here's some news.
You can print it if you choose,
Just to prove that times have changed a lot.
Though it may sound strange for you,
It is absolutely true.
You can believe it or not.

Since making whoopee became all the rage,
It's even got to the old birdcage,
And my canary has circles under his eyes.
I thought he'd never do anything wrong.
Now he does snakehips the whole day long,
And my canary has circles under his eyes.
His only pals are the yellow lark
And just a tiny sparrow,
But I'm afraid when he's in the park
He leaves the straight and narrow.
I've raised this bird in a manner so strict,
Yet I've a feeling I'm being tricked,
'Cause my canary has circles under his eyes.

IV. Sophie Tucker with Ted Shapiro and Orchestra sings a different ending to her second verse plus an additional third verse:

He's never cheerful; he's lost all his dash.
Must have been caught in the Wall Street crash,
'Cause my canary has circles under his eyes.

When I observe him, it's making me think
He may be taking to dope or drink,
'Cause my canary has circles under his eyes.
Maybe he's got secret sorrow or strife.
Maybe he's leading a double life,
'Cause my canary has circles under his eyes.
I can't imagine him going wrong,
Or doing something shady.
Perhaps he's just worn out through singing songs
To some canary lady.
I fed him birdseed, but now he denotes
That birdseed must have been wild, wild oats,
'Cause my canary has circles under his eyes.

V. Charles W. Hamp has this different ending to his second verse:

He's off to dreamland when dark shadows creep,
But I believe he walks around in his sleep,
'Cause my canary has circles under his eyes.