George
(from Cabaret Songs)

Arnold Weinstein


My friend George, used to say:
"Oh call me Georgia, 'hon, get yourself a drink."
And sang the best soprano
in our part of town.

In beads, brocade and pins,
he sang if you happened in
through the door he never locked
and said "get yourself a drink."

And sang out loud
till tears fell in the cognac
And the chocolate milk and gin
and all the beads and brocade and pins

When strangers happened through his open door
George said, "Stay, but yuh gotta keep quiet!
While I sing and then a minute after.
And call me Georgia."

One fine day a stranger in a suit of navy blue
Took George's life with a knife George had placed beside an apple pie he'd baked.
And stabbed him in the middle of "Un bel di vedremo".
As he sang for this particular stranger who was in the United States Navy.

The funeral was at the cocktail hour. We knew George would like it like that.
Tears fell on the beads, brocade and pins in the coffin which was white.
Cause George was a virgin.
Oh call him Georgia, 'hon. Get yourself a drink.

You can call me Gerogia, 'hon. Get yourself a drink!


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