I Like To Recognize The Tune

I Like To Recognize The Tune
music by Richard Rodgers (left)
lyric by Lorenz Hart (right)

Some funny folks like to shoot off rockets, others like to pick your pockets.
Some of them kill when they feel the urge, others go in for perjury.
I, too, have a passion that I can't understand.
It comes out when I hear a band...

I like to recognize the tune, I want to savvy what the band is playing.
I keep saying, must you bury the tune?
Is it a cat meowing in the attic? Is it static?
Must you bury the tune?

A guy named Krupa plays the drums like thunder,
But the melody is six feet under.
There isn't anyone immune---
They kill Billy Roses and Puccinis. Don't be meanies. Must you bury the tune?

When that big maestro plays the songs he's written,
Poor Tchaikovsky down below starts spittin'.
There isn't anyone immune---

They kill the Irving Berlins and Rossinis.
Don't be meanies. Must you bury the tune?

When Ben Bernie starts his band with "Yowser",
Old Man Mose is dead, and so's Tannhauser.
There isn't anyone immune---

They kill the George Cohans and the Strausses.
Don't be louses. Must you bury the tune?

When Horace Heidt gives out with rhythm silky
Mrs. Roosevelt starts to dance with Wilkie.
(alternate lines) When Kay Kyser jazzes Floradora
Mrs. Roosevelt starts to dance with Borah.
There isn't anyone immune---

They kill Vincent Youmans and the Gounods.
Don't be you-knows. Must you bury the tune?

When she hears those chords of Eddie Duchin's
Elsa Maxwell quivers with her two chins.
There isn't anyone immune---

They kill the Arthur Schwartzes and the Glinkas.
Don't be shtinkers. Must you bury the tune?