Solomon Levi (1951)
My name is Solomon Levi
At my store in Chatham street
There's where you'll find your coats and vests
And ev'rything else that's neat
I've second-handed Ulsterettes,
And ev'rything that's fine
For all the boys they trade with me
At one hundred and forty-nine.
Oh, Mister Levi, Levi, tra, la, la, la;
Poor Sheeny Levi, Tra, la, la, la, la.
La, la, la. La, la, la.
My name is Solomon Levi
At my store in Chatham street
There's where you'll find your coats and vests,
And ev'rything else that's neat
I've second-handed Ulsterettes,
And ev'rything that's fine
For all the boys they trade with me,
At one hundred and forty-nine.
But when a bummer comes inside
My store in Chatham street
And tries to hang me up for coat
And vest and pants complete
I kicks that bummer out of my store
And on him sets my pup
For I won't sell clothes to any man
That tries to hang me up
Original version (dates from 1890):
Oh, my name is Solomon Levi
I am a velly good man
I'll sell you a suit of klo-zes,
So sheep as ever I can.
My wife's name is Rachel,
She's nothing but a sham,
And every time she gets a chance
She slugs me if she can.
So help me Jimminey Moses
To sell you a suit of klo-zes;
I live way up on Market Street
Number One hundred Twenty-nine.
And it's kal-uh-ma, kal-uh-ma cinda,
I will meet you at the kavinda,
Kal-uh-ma cinda cinda cinda,
A-hosta, ka-zista, ka-zay!
Spoken: There was a loafer came in the store one day,
and said, "Solomon, have you any nice cutaway suits?"
I said, "Yes," and he tried on the coat. Just then he
cut out of the back door, and I hollered to my son John,
"John, get the gun and shoot him in the leg so you don't
spoil the coat." Just then my wife Rachel appeared at
the window singing, "Oh,
It's kal-uh-ma, kal-uh-ma cinda,
I will meet you at the kavinda,
Kal-uh-ma cinda cinda cinda
A-hosta, ka-zista, ka-zay!
The Spanish Cavalier.
http://www.loc.gov/item/sm1885.07548/