Lyr/Chords Req: Couple of Swells (Irving Berlin)

Subject: Couple of Swells?
From: GUEST,D_hand
Date: 25 May 01 - 11:07 AM

Know it not 'true muscat' but can't find these lyrics anywhere

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Couple of Swells?
From:
Date: 25 May 01 - 11:24 AM

I can still see Judy Garland and Fred Astaire singing this song.

I'm not home right now, but it might be in one of the Readers Digest Songbooks I have at home.

Irving Berlin wrote it, and it was featured in Easter Parade, and probably other musicals. I've looked quickly on the 'net and don't see any of the Irving Berlin or Musicals web-sites which have this song. IF someone doesn't get back sooner, I'll look when I get home late tonight.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Couple of Swells?
From: GUEST
Date: 25 May 01 - 11:27 AM

Many thanks George. I have tried the musical & Irving Berlin sites but to no avail.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Couple of Swells?
From: SINSULL
Date: 25 May 01 - 11:48 AM

Strange - I found only one site with the lyrics and it is no longer active. Copyright issues, maybe?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Couple of Swells?
From: catspaw49
Date: 25 May 01 - 12:10 PM

Yeah, I think this one is going to require a transcription as I'm pretty sure it isn't on the net. Could be and I just can't locate it, but I have tried various phrases from the song ("we would sail up the avenue," for example plus several others) and can get no hits at all except on the title phrase and no lyrics are found under that. Good Luck, and I hope George or someone has it for you.......or is a better searcher than I am!!

I loved old Fred and always found myself watching him more than his partner as he always overshadowed their abilities. However, at least to me, the ONLY partner he had that draws my attention at least equally was Judy Garland. I'm not a big Judy Garland fan, but her talent was unmistakable! This movie was short on everything that should matter (like plot), but is still my favorite Astaire film because of her.

Spaw

Spaw

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Couple of Swells?
From: Les from Hull
Date: 25 May 01 - 12:24 PM

'overshadowed their abilities'

Didn't Ginger Rogers say 'I do everything that Fred does, but backwards and in heels'?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Couple of Swells?
From: catspaw49
Date: 25 May 01 - 12:28 PM

Yeah, and she blistered her feet rehearsing because he was such a perfectionist. I dunno' Les.......But I never watch the girl (except Garland) very much. He just had that ability to draw attention, the crisp, angular, yet flowing and smooth movements...........he had something different. Just an opinion.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Couple of Swells?
From: GUEST,Willa
Date: 25 May 01 - 01:53 PM

We're a couple of swells,we dine at the best hotels;
We like to roam the country far away from the city smells
We're a couple of sports, we shine on the tennis courts
In June, July and August we look cute when we're dressed in shorts
Wall street bankers are we, with plenty of currency,
We'd open up the safe but we forgot where we put the key.
CHORUS
We could sail down the Avenue but we haven't got a yacht
We could ride down the Avenue, but the horse we had was shot.
We could swim down the Avenue, but we haven't got a lake,
So a walk down the Avenue, yes a walk down the Avenue, yes a walk down the Avenue's what we'll take.
This is not complete, and may not be in correct sequence, but it's the best I can do from memory.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Couple of Swells?
From: Les from Hull
Date: 25 May 01 - 03:16 PM

Well done Willa - I think there's more though. Isn't there a second version of the chorus?

True enough about Fred Astaire, Spaw. He cetainly had the power to command the eye. I'm reminded of one of PG Wodehouse's comments (not about him) 'like a snake with hips'.**bg**

Les

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Couple of Swells?
From: GUEST,Willa
Date: 25 May 01 - 05:25 PM

Les; yes - can't get the song out of my head now!
I think it's a case of a different 'chorus'after each verse. I remember
We could .....
We could skate down the Avenue, but there isn't any ice.
We could ride on the trolleycar but we haven't got the fare
So we'll walk down the Avenue, yes we'll walk down the Avenue, yes we'll walk down the Avenue till we're there.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Couple of Swells?
From: Snuffy
Date: 25 May 01 - 06:13 PM

Here's some more bits - not sure if the order is right, though

We're a couple of swells,we dine at the best hotels;
But we prefer the country far away from the city smells
We're a couple of sports, the pride of the tennis courts
In June, July and August we look cute when we're dressed in shorts
The Vanderbilts have asked us up for tea
But How are we to get there? Yes sirreee!
CHORUS
We could sail up the Avenue but we haven't got a yacht
We could ride up the Avenue, but the horse we had was shot.
We could swim up the Avenue, but we haven't got a lake,
So we'll walk up the Avenue, yes we'll walk down the Avenue
Yes a walk up the Avenue's what we'll take.

We're the favorite lads, of the girls in the picture ads
We'd like to tell you who we kissed last night, but we can't be cads
Wall street bankers are we, with plenty of currency,
We'd open up the safe but we forgot where we put the key.
The Vanderbilts have asked us to the club
But how are we to get there? That's the rub!
CHORUS
We could sail up the Avenue but we haven't got a yacht
We could ride up the Avenue, but the horse we had was shot.
We could ride up the Avenue, but we haven't got a bike,
So we'll walk up the Avenue, yes we'll walk up the Avenue,
yes to walk up the Avenue's what we like.

.......... We could ride on a trolley car, but we haven't got the fare,
So we'll walk up the Avenue, yes we'll walk up the Avenue,
yes we'll walk up the Avenue till we're there.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Couple of Swells?
From: Chocolate Pi
Date: 25 May 01 - 08:48 PM

Little nitpick: I learned
"The Vanderbilts have asked us up to tea
We don't know how to get there, no sirree.


Chocolate Pi

Subject: Lyr Add: A COUPLE OF SWELLS (Irving Berlin)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 22 Apr 02 - 11:09 PM

Copied from http://www.angelfire.com/ri/JudyGarland/eplyrics.html

A COUPLE OF SWELLS
(Irving Berlin)
(From the film "Easter Parade," 1948.)

BOTH: We're a couple of swells.
We stop at the best hotels,
But we prefer the country far away from the city smells.
We're a couple of sports,
The pride of the tennis courts.
In June, July, and August, we look cute when we're dressed in shorts.

HANNAH [Judy Garland]: The Vanderbilts have asked us up for tea.

DON [Fred Astaire]: We don't know how to get there, no sirree.

BOTH: No sirree.
We would drive up the avenue, but we haven't got the price.
We would skate up the avenue, but there isn't any ice.
We would ride on a bicycle, but we haven't got a bike.
So, we'll walk up the avenue, yes, we'll walk up the avenue, and to walk up the avenue's what we like.

Wall Street bankers are we.
With plenty of currency.
We'd open up the safe but we forgot where we put the key.
We're the favorite lads
Of girls in the picture ads.
We'd like to tell you who we kissed last night, but we can't be cads.

HANNAH: The Vanderbilts are waiting at the club.

DON: But, how are we to get there? That's the rub.

BOTH: That's the rub.
We would sail up the avenue but we haven't got a yacht.
We would drive up the avenue but the horse we had was shot!
We would ride on a trolley car but we haven't got the fare.
So we'll walk up the avenue, yes, we'll walk up the avenue, yes, we'll walk up the avenue till we're there.

We would swim up the avenue but we haven't any lake.
So we'll walk up the avenue, yes, we'll walk up the avenue. Yes, a walk up the avenue's what we'll take.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Couple of Swells?
From: masato sakurai
Date: 23 Apr 02 - 02:04 AM

The lyrics are in Robert Gottlieb and Robert Kimball, eds., Reading Lyrics (Pantheon Books, 2000, p. 75), which contains "more than a thousand of the finest lyrics from 1900 to 1975."

~Masato

Subject: Chord Req: We're a Couple of Swells
From: GUEST,Woody Wood
Date: 31 Jul 12 - 04:58 PM

Can anyone fix me up with some 'playable chords' for 'We're a Couple of Swells' ?

Subject: RE: Chord Req: We're a Couple of Swells
From: Mick Pearce (MCP)
Date: 31 Jul 12 - 05:54 PM

You can see most of them here: A Couple of Swells (use the arrow at the top to go to the next page; there's a big Preview box in the middle of the pages after the first, but you can get most of it).


Mick

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Couple of Swells (Irving Berlin)
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 01 Aug 12 - 11:15 AM

a video of fred and judy performing this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hrzo5SPaOvg