The Eddie Cantor album "The Columbia Years: 1922-1940" contains two versions of this song. I have arbitrarily designated them Part I and Part II.


WHEN MY SHIP COMES IN
Words by Gus Kahn, music by Walter Donaldson, ©1934.
From the film "Kid Millions" (1934)
As recorded by Eddie Cantor.

[Part I – 3:14]

VERSE 1: You know I hate to hear you sigh,
But you get blue, and so do I,
Because our ship of dreams
Is lost at sea, it seems;
But though it's very far away,
It will return some day.

CHORUS 1: We'll have that cottage you've been wishing for.
We'll have those roses rambling round the door,
And maybe baby playing on the floor,
When my ship comes in.

You'll have the most expensive ev'ning gown.
I'll have the finest dinner coat in town.
The finest families won't turn us down,
When my ship comes in.

That fur coat you've been craving
Is practically sold.
There will be no skimping and saving.
All you've got to do is pray the weather's cold.

We'll have a car that's nearly new.
We'll have it painted ev'ry year or two,
And best of all, I know that I'll have you,
When my ship comes in.

CHORUS 2: I'll buy out ev'ry ice-cream factory,
So all the kids can come and get in free,
And I'll throw all the spinach in the sea,
When my ship comes in.

I'll buy up all the public schools in sight,
And all day long I'll have them closed up tight,
For they'll be used as picture shows at night,
When my ship comes in.

I'll buy Barnum and Bailey,
And move 'em right next door.
They'll give two performances daily
For the kids who never saw a show before.

In golden chairs we'll sip our tea for two.
I'll have Paul Whiteman there to play for you.
I'll have Bing Crosby singing, "Boo-boo-boo-boo-boo-boo-boo"
When my ship comes in.

[Part II – 3:05]
[I have omitted lines that are repeated from Part I.]

VERSE 2: There is a ship that sails the sea
For little folks like you and me.
It carries all our dreams,
Our little hopes and schemes.
I've got a ship that sailed away.
It's coming home some day.

CHORUS 3: I'll have a golden castle grand and tall,
With eighteen butlers standing in the hall,
And Walter Disney paintings on the wall,
When my ship comes in.

I'll leave the choice of autos up to you,
And if you think a big Rolls Royce will do,
I think I'll play it safe and order two,
When my ship comes in.

I'll have suits made to measure.
In fact, I'll buy us four;
And can you imagine the pleasure—
Wearing shoes that no one ever wore before?

I'll phone to each department store and say:
"Call up your Santa Claus and raise his pay,
And tell him we'll have Christmas ev'ry day,
When my ship comes in."