Ballad of the Garment Trade

Lyrics

[MISS MARMELSTEIN] If you don't want to get nervous Do yourself a great big service Stay away please far from Seventh Avenue You can lose your sense and reason Guessing what style for next season Yes, the dress business will make a wreck of you [MISS MARMELSTEIN, RUTHIE & BLANCHE] It's a battle fierce and grim That depends on a lady's whim What will Miss and Mrs. America's answer be? Will she say with tossing head [MISS MARMELSTEIN] "In that rag I wouldn't drop dead" [RUTHIE] Or will she sigh, "Yes, this dress is really me" [MISS MARMELSTEIN, RUTHIE & BLANCHE] On guessing what a dame will say A sheer impossibility These poor kids bravely work away And try to build an industry How crazy, bold and reckless Can human beings be? [COMPANY] Hip, hip, hooray For the garment trade Give a cheer, the poor shlemiels They're heroes every one Day after day They go undismayed To the cockamamy job that must be done Off to the fray On their brave crusade Gallant ladies' garment trade Go in health, God speed Indigestion's breed Men and ulcers on parade [MEYER, HARRY & TEDDY] What a business, what a sap game It's about as much a business as a crap game Snap or zipper, bow or button All we know is all the experts know from nothin' So the last line you got by with Coming right up is another you could die with If you're right, the dough could flow in [MEYER] If you're not, you haven't got a pot to sew in [COMPANY] Off to the fray On their brave crusade Gallant ladies' garment trade Go in health, God speed Indigestion's breed Men and ulcers on parade Off to the fray On their brave crusade Gallant ladies' garment trade Go in health, God speed Indigestion's breed Men and ulcers on parade!