Lyr Req: Don't Put a Tax on the Beautiful Girls

Subject: Lyr Add: DON'T PUT A TAX ON THE BEAUTIFUL GIRLS
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 26 Oct 12 - 02:44 PM

Here's another version that illustrates how a song written for a male singer can be adapted for a woman:


DON'T PUT A TAX ON THE BEAUTIFUL GIRLS
As sung by Sophie Tucker with Her Five Kings of Syncopation on "Origins of the Red-Hot Mama, 1910-1922" (Archeophone Records, 2009)

VERSE 1. Taxes here and there,
Taxes ev'rywhere,
But the … from, they say.
Though I never mix,
Into politics,
I wrote to my congressman today.
This is just exactly what I wrote:
"If you want the women's vote—

CHORUS 1: Don't put a tax on the beautiful girls, 'cause how can they live without love?
You can tax their business and all that they own,
But have a little pity; leave my pleasures alone.
What'll I do on some beautiful night if some nice young fellow should call?
Suppose it costs a dime to kiss a girl on the cheek.
How's a fellow goin' to live on fifty a week?
So don't put a tax on the beautiful girls, or we won't get no lovin' at all.

CHORUS 2: Don't put a tax on the beautiful girls, 'cause how can they live without love?
I can't stand for Bevo, but let me tell you this:
I couldn't get anything out of a man on a two-percent tip.
What'll I do on a beautiful night if some nice young fellow should call?
If they should ever put a tax on beautiful vamps,
I will be one wild woman that'll be covered with stamps.
So don't put a tax on the beautiful girls, or we won't get no lovin' at all.

TAG: Why, it's all right for the old maids who are too old to tempt,
But ev'ry woman over forty should be exempt.
So don't put a tax on the beautiful girls, or we won't get no lovin' at all.


[Bevo was a brand of non-alcoholic "near beer" that was sold during prohibition. ]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Don't Put a Tax on the Beautiful Girls
From: Cool Beans
Date: 26 Oct 12 - 01:58 PM

There's a recording on YouTube here, with occasional different lines than the ones printed above.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrb7hJhcDGA

Subject: Lyr Add: DON'T PUT A TAX ON THE BEAUTIFUL GIRLS
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 26 Oct 12 - 01:48 PM

I've checked this version with Spotify and marked the differences with boldface:


DON'T PUT A TAX ON THE BEAUTIFUL GIRLS
As sung by Eddie Cantor

VERSE 1. Taxes here and there,
Taxes ev'rywhere,
Taxes ev'ry place that they can be.
Though I'm getting by,
Still I can't deny
There's a tax I know would ruin me.
I sent my congressman a note.
I said: "If you want my vote—

CHORUS 1: Don't put a tax on the beautiful girls. How can I live without love?
You can tax my business and all that I own,
But have a little pity; leave my pleasure alone.
What'll I do on a beautiful night if I should happen to fall?
Suppose they charge a dime to kiss a girl on her cheek.
How's a fella goin' to live on thirty a week?
So don't put a tax on the beautiful girls, or I won't get any lovin' at all.

CHORUS 2: Don't put a tax on the beautiful girls. How can I live without love?
You can tax my soda—I'll pay it somehow—
But don't you think the price of chicken's high enough now?
What'll I do on a beautiful night if I should happen to fall?
Now what's the use of takin' all the joy out of life?
You're just gonna drive me back to lovin' my wife.
So don't put a tax on the beautiful girls, or I won't get any lovin' at all.

CHORUS 3: Don't put a tax on the beautiful girls. How can I live without love?
I don't mind the taxes on my ginger ale,
But put a tax on women and we'll all go to jail.
What'll I do on a beautiful night if I should happen to fall?
But if you've gotta put a tax on beautiful vamps,
Let me be the guy who goes around with the stamps.
So don't put a tax on the beautiful girls, or I won't get any lovin' at all.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Don't Put a Tax on the Beautiful Girls
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 14 Jun 12 - 05:13 AM

If they put a tax on beautiful girls I know some who'd be due a rebate!

"If you want to be happy for the rest of your life
never make a pretty woman your wife ..."

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Don't Put a Tax on the Beautiful Girls
From: GUEST
Date: 13 Jun 12 - 04:45 PM

This song is from the 1920s, and was written and recorded by Eddie Cantor. My grandfather used to sing it all of the time, and it's become a staple to sing at all of our family parties. You can get the Eddie Cantor version, along with several others on iTunes.

Subject: Lyr Add: DON'T PUT A TAX ON THE BEAUTIFUL GIRLS
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 17 Nov 09 - 06:56 PM

You can see the sheet music at the Indiana University web site:


DON'T PUT A TAX ON THE BEAUTIFUL GIRLS
Jack Yellen and Milton Ager
New York: Leo. Feist Inc., 1919.

1. Taxes here and there,
Taxes ev'rywhere,
Taxes ev'ry place that they can be.
Though I'm getting by,
Still I can't deny
There's a tax I know would ruin me.
I wrote my congressman a note.
I said: "If you want my vote—

CHORUS 1: Don't put a tax on the beautiful girls. How can I live without love?
You can tax my business and all that I own,
But have a little pity—leave my pleasure alone.
What'll I do on a beautiful night if I should happen to fall?
Suppose that I'm about to kiss a beautiful maid.
What if she discovers that my tax isn't paid?
Don't put a tax on the beautiful girls, or I won't get any lovin' at all.

2. Ev'ry cent I make,
Tax collectors take.
They don't leave me with a single dime.
I can get along
Without the wine or song,
But I need the girlies all the time.
They're not a luxury with me.
They're a great necessity.

CHORUS 2: Don't put a tax on the beautiful girls. How can I live without love?
You can tax my soda—I'll pay it somehow—
But don't you think the price of chicken's high enough now?
What'll I do on a beautiful night if I should happen to fall?
But if you have to put a tax on beautiful vamps,
Let me be the guy who goes around with the stamps.
Don't put a tax on the beautiful girls, or I won't get any lovin' at all.

Subject: RE: Don't Put a Tax on the Beautiful Girls
From: GUEST,Ron Davies
Date: 12 Apr 04 - 10:50 PM

This is from the Dick Spottswood show--heard on WAMU-FM and also on the Web. This time of year Dick likes to play songs
about, among other things, the death of FDR, the sinking of the Titanic, and US tax day (April 15). I've been a taping addict for a long time---I support the station, specifically his program, so I think it's OK. Anyway--from a Doc Williams recording


Don't put a tax on the beautiful girls
For how could I live without love?
You can tax my business, and all that I own
But have a little pity--leave my pleasures alone
What would I do on a beautiful night
If I should happen to fall?
Supposin' I'm about to kiss a beautiful maid
And she should discover that my tax wasn't paid?
Don't put a tax on the beautiful girls
I won't have any lovin' at all

Tax collectors take
Most everything I make
They don't leave me with a single dime
Now I can get along
Without the wine and song
But I need the girlies all the time
They are not a luxury to me
But a great necessity
Don't put a tax on the beautiful girls
For how could I live without love?
You can tax my soda
I'll pay it somehow
But don't you think the price of chicken's high enough now?
What would I do on a beautiful night
If I should happen to fall?
Well, if you put a tax on those beautiful vamps
Please let me be the guy that goes around with the stamps
Don't put a tax on the beautiful girls
I won't have any lovin' at all

Subject: RE: Don't Put a Tax on the Beautiful Girls
From: rich r
Date: 28 May 97 - 08:19 PM

This is only fragmentary information but maybe it will trigger a memory from someone else. The New Lost City Ramblers recorded a song called "Sales Tax on the Women" on their Folkways album SONGS FROM THE DEPRESSION. This is a similar theme to the song you are looking for, but not the same one. The NLCR track was re issued in 1991 on a Smithsonian Folkways CD 40036. The notes with that CD mentions that the Ramblers got the song from a Dixon Brothers recording (Bluebird 6327). The notes go on to say: "the conceit of taxing women was used in at least one earlier country song of humerous protest, Ernest Thompson's peculier "Don't Put A Tax On The Beautiful Girls," Columbia 168. I have never heard that song, but you now have a singer and a record label. Maybe somebody familiar with country music archives can come with some more.

rich r

Subject: Don't Put a Tax on the Beautiful Girls
From:
Date: 25 May 97 - 09:53 AM

My mother asked for my help locating a song she sang with friends and family. Evenings in her childhood home were spent around the piano with family neighbors and even passersby joining in on the fun. I assume it was in the 30's! Thanks