Lyr Req: O Katharina (L W Gilbert, R Fall)

09 Oct 04 - 10:12 PM (#1293523)
Subject: Lyr Req: Oh Katharina
From: Rabbi-Sol

This is an oldie which my mother used to sing. It was about a very fat woman. The parts I do remember went

Oh Katharina, Oh Katharina,
To be my love you must be leaner,
There's so much of you, two can love you.

If anyone has the complete lyrics and the authors's name I would appreciate it.
SOL ZELLER

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09 Oct 04 - 10:40 PM (#1293542)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Oh Katharina
From: masato sakurai

Lyrics were requested at a previous thread (O Katharina), but they are not complete.

Levy has it, but unfortunately the images are not given.

Title: O Katharina!
Composer, Lyricist, Arranger: Lyric by L. Wolfe Gilbert. Music by Richard Fall.
Richard Fall Publication: New York: Leo Feist, Inc., 1924.
Instrumentation: piano and voice; ukulele
Form of Composition: strophic with chorus
First Line: Again we have the Chauve Souris, they come to us from across the sea
First Line of Chorus: O, Katharina, O, Katharina, O, Katharina
Performer: F. Ray Comstock & Morris Gest Present Balieff's Chauve Souris. Direct From Their Paris and London Engagement. The Sensational European Success!
Engraver, Lithographer, Artist: A. Hudiakoff
Advertisement: ads on inside bottom margins, on inside front and on back covers for Leo Feist, Inc. stock
Plate Number: 5535-3
Subject: Caricatures
Subject: Entertainment
Call No.: Box: 156 Item: 138

There's an entry in American Popular Songs, by David Ewen (Random House, 1966):

O Katharina!, words by L. Wolfe Gilbert to a melody by Richard Fall, distinguished Austrian operetta composer (1924). "O Katharina!" was written for and introduced by Nikita Balieff, the genial, round-faced master of ceremonies of the Russian revue Chauve souris, imported to New York from Paris in 1924.
L. Wolfe Gilbert has explained: "My song was as timely then as it is today. Since the American woman was diet conscious, I wrote 'O Katharina, O Katharina, to keep my love, you must be leaner.' I spent two weeks rehearsing him [Balieff].... I asked one chap how Balieff sang the song. 'He didn't sing the words,' the stranger replied. 'He just kept singing the title over and over until he had most of the audience singing or whistling it."

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01 Jan 10 - 01:29 AM (#2800608)
Subject: Lyr Add: O KATHARINA (L W Gilbert, R Fall)
From: GUEST,999

Composer: Richard Fall
Lyricist: L. Wolfe Gilbert

O KATHARINA

Again we have the chauve-souris
They come to us from 'cross the sea
With something new they always do
For me and you
A new contagious melody
The rage of London and Paree
They brought along
And now this song is going strong
For Balieff instructs them all
He makes you sing it with him
Before you go you're bound to know
The melody and rhythm
And then next day while on your way
You hum and sing and long to play

Oh Heinie sailed from Rotterdam
He stopped off first at Amsterdam
To meet his bride then side by side
They took the ride across the sea
To Yankee land
He furnished up a flat so grand
And there she sat
So big and fat
Down at their flat
One night he took his wifie out
They went to see the Follies
He thought that she was such a queen
Until he saw those Dollies
When they got home
He shook his head
Then to his wife he turned and said

Chorus:
O Katharina, O Katharina


O Katharina, O Katharina, to keep my love you must be leaner
There's so much of you "Two" could love you
Learn to swim, join a gym, eat farina
O Katharina, unless you're leaner I'll have to build a big arena
You're such a crowd, my Katharine
I got a lot when I got you.


from

http://74.125.155.132/search?q=cache:0KNBUlm3SjEJ:library.duke.edu/digitalcollections/asl.3797441a110/+Again+we+have+the+Chauve+

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