Let's Take A Walk Around The Block

Let's Take A Walk Around The Block
music by Harold Arlen (left)
lyric by E. Y. "Yip" Harburg (center)& Ira Gershwin (right)

I never travel'd further north than Van Cortlandt Park,
And never further south than the Aquarium; I've seen the charm of Jersey City
But, first let me remark, I saw it from the Empire State Solarium.
But I've been putting nickels in the Postal Savings Bank and,
When those nickels pile up, we can toddle off in swank;
And I don't mean an ordinary Cook's tour, I mean a "cabin deluxe" tour.

Someday we'll go places, new lands and new faces,
The day we quit punching the clock.
The future looks pleasant, but, at present, let's take a walk around the block.

You're just the companion I want at Grand Canyon,
For throwing old blades down the rock;
The money we have'll go for travel, meantime, let's walk around the block.

Gangway! We'll begin, when our ship comes in; you'll sit on my lap,
All over the map.
To London in Maytime, to Venice in playtime, to Paris in time for a frock;
To Boston in bean-time, darling, meantime, let's take a walk around the block.

In winter at Christmas we'll visit the Isthmus and see how they lock up a lock;
And then in Caracas, on a jackass we'll take a ride around the block.
I give you my promise we'll visit St. Thomas and then at the Virgins we'll dock.

The Virgins can wait, sir, it grows late, sir, let's take a walk around the block!

Onward to Cathay, then to Mandalay, then Vladivostok!
Where Bolsheviks flock!
We'll send the folks cables, accumulate labels, buy souvenirs till we're in hock,
Right now we are flat in old Manhattan, let's take a walk around the block.