- Written by
- Irving Berlin
- Composition date
- May 1927
- Copyright date
- December 2, 1929
- Language
- English
- ISWC
-
T-070.167.001-0 ASCAP, GEMA, ISWC, JASRAC
- Comments
-
Published with two different sets of lyrics, since Irving Berlin rewrote the lyrics in 1946 for the Fred Astaire movie Blue Skies.
The original 1930 version goes as follows:
Have you seen the well-to-do, up on Lenox Avenue
On that famous thoroughfare, white spats and fifteen dollars
Spending every dime for a wonderful time
Refrain:
If you're blue and you don't know where to go to
Why don't you go where Harlem sits: puttin' on the Ritz
Spangled gowns upon a bevy of high browns
From down the levee, all misfits: puttin' on the Ritz
That's where each and ev'ry Lulu Bell goes
Ev'ry Thursday ev'ning with her swell beaus
Rubbing elbows
Come with me and we'll attend their jubilee
And see them spend their last two bits
Puttin' on the Ritz
The 1946 lyrics as first used by Fred Astaire:
Have you seen the well-to-do, up and down Park Avenue
On that famous thoroughfare, with their noses in the air
High hats and arrowed collars, white spats and lots of dollars
Spending every dime, for a wonderful time
Refrain:
If you're blue and you don't know where to go to
Why don't you go where fashion sits: puttin' on the ritz.
Different types who wear a daycoat, pants with stripes
And cut away coat, perfect fits: puttin' on the Ritz .
Dressed up like a million dollar trouper
Trying hard to look like Gary Cooper (super duper)
Come let's mix where Rockefellers walk with sticks
Or umbrellas in their mitts: puttin' on the Ritz
Tips his hat just like an english chappie
To a lady with a wealthy pappy (very snappy)
You'll declare it's simply topping to be there
And hear them swapping smart titbits: puttin' on the Ritz! - Published by
-
BERLIN-IRVING-MUSIC CO
GEMA
BERLIN IRVING MUSIC CORP ASCAP
- Licensing
- Request a synchronization license
Adaptations
An adaptation is a musical work, which uses elements (music or lyrics) from another musical work.
-
Puttin' on the Ritz written by Irving Berlin English May 1927
- Hotel Ritz written by Zdeněk Borovec Czech 1984
- Rilluttele yö written by Vexi Salmi Finnish 1983
- Liebe ist dabei written by Ralf Arnie German 1965
- לך לשפת הים {Lekh lesfat ha-yam} written by Avi Koren Hebrew 1984
- De fyra klädesplaggen written by Rolf Allan Håkansson Swedish 1989