Makin' Whoopie - What Are Teh Original Lyrics?

[JSngry]

Were these the original lyrics?

or this?

The second set is very familiar (and the earlier recording, yes?), the first is not. Is there a story here?

[marcello]

It seems that there are more than one version:

MAKING WHOOPEE
(Gus Kahn)

Another bride, another groom
The countryside is all in bloom;
The flow'rs 'n trees is,
The birds and bees is
Making whoopie.

The choir sings, "Here comes the bride"
Another victim is at her side
He's lost his reason
'Cause it's the season
For making whoopee.

     Down through the countless ages,
     You'll find it ev'rywhere:
     Somebody makes good wages,
     Somebody wants her share.
It's so he'll fall for
Making whoopee.

Another year, or maybe less
What's this I hear? Or can't you guess?
She feels neglected,
And he's suspected
Of making whoopee.

She sits alone 'most ev'ry night
He doesn't come home, or even write
He says he's busy
But she says, "Is he
Making whoopee?"

     He doesn't make much money
     Five thousand dollars per;
     Some judge who thinks he's funny
     Says, "You pay six to her."
He says, "Now judge, suppose I fail?"
The judge says, "Bud, right into jail.
You'd better keep her
You'll find it cheaper
Than making whoopee."

Note: This set of words sung by Eddie Cantor in movie version of
     Whoopee! (1930) 

Additional verses:

Another bride
Another groom
Another sunny
Honeymoon;
Another season,
Another reason
For makin' whoopee.

A quiet service,
A lot of rice,
The groom is nervous
He answers twice.
It's really killing
That he's so willing
To make whoopee.

     Picture a little lovenest
     Down where the roses cling
     Picture that same sweet lovenest
     Think what a year can bring.

He's washing dishes
And baby clothes
He's so ambitious
He even sews;
But don't forget, boys
That's what you get, boys
For makin' whoopee.

Another intro, as sung by Eddie on "Carnegie Hall Concert"


Every time I hear that dear old wedding march
I feel rather glad I have a broken arch
I have heard a lot of married people talk
And I know that marriage is a long, long walk
To most people weddings mean romance
But I prefer a picnic or a dance

Encore choruses:


Take Peggy Joyce
With little boys
She soon became,
The nation's choice
I'll tell you Buddy
She's made a study 
Of Makin' Whoopee

The best known verion:

Another bride, another June
Another sunny honeymoon
Another season, another reason
For makin' whoopee

A lot of shoes, a lot of rice
The groom is nervous, he answers twice
Its really killin'
That he's so willin' to make whoopee

Now picture a little love nest
Down where the roses cling
Picture the same sweet love nest
Think what a year can bring, yes

He's washin dishes and baby clothes
He's so ambitious he even sews
But don't forget folks,
Thats what you get folks, for makin' whoopee

Another year, maybe less
What's this I hear? Well, can't you guess?
She feels neglected, and he's suspected
Of makin' whoopee

Yeah, she sits alone,
Most every night
He doesn't phone, he doesn't write
He says he's busy,
But she says, "Is he?"
He's makin' whoopee

Now he doesn't make much money
Only five thousand per
Some judge who thinks he's funny
Says, "You'll pay six to her."

He says, "Now judge, suppose I fail?"
Judge say, "Budge. Right into jail.
You'd better keep her. I think it's cheaper
Than makin' whoopee."

Yes, yeah, you better keep her
Daddy, I think it's cheaper
Than makin' whoopee

[Dan Gould]

Thanks Marcello; I've only known the latter version, from the Louis/Ella recording.

[JSngry]

So...we have

• A 1929 recorded version that has the familiar lyrics
• A 1930 filmed version with unfamiliar/lesser-known lyrics, but supposedly this filmed version was based on the "stage success", which was from 1928(?)
• And the "Peggy Joyce" thing, which I've never heard of until now.

Would it be safe to assume that all these lyrics were part of the stage show dating from 1928, but that the mandates of the 10" 78 dictated to "choose one"? And the familiar set is what they chose?

Or is there more to it than that?

[marcello]

That's probably a good assumption. That is it was shortened and change/updated for a commercial recording release.

It was part of the Broadway-Musical "Whoopee!" in 1928.

I found this:

Makin' Whoopee - the lyrics
(the common known version)
Words by Gus Kahn Another bride
Another june
Another sunny
Honeymoon
Another season
Another reason
For Makin' Whoopee.
A lot of shoes
A lot of rice
The groom is nervous
He answers twice
It's really killin'
That he's so willin'
to make whoopee!
Picture a little love-nest,
Down where the roses cling,
Picture the same sweet lovenest,
Think what a year can bring.
He's washing dishes
And baby clothes
He's so ambitious
He even sews
But don't forget, folks
That's what you get, folks,
for Makin' Whoopee! Another year
Or maybe less
What's this I hear?
Well, can't you guess?
She feels neglected
And he's suspected
Of Makin' Whoopee!
She sits alone
'Most every night
He doesn't 'phone her
He doesn't write
He says he's "busy"
But she says "is he?"
He's Makin' Whoopee!
He doesn't make much money
Only a five-thousand per
Some judge, who thinks he's funny
Told him he got to pay six to her
He says: "Now judge, suppose I fail."
The judge says: "Budge, right into jail!
You'd better keep her,
I think it's cheaper
Than Makin' Whoopee!!"

[JSngry]

Yeah, that's all of it I've ever known, and to be honest, I went a long time thinking that the second verse (or "chorus", to be technical) was added later. I mean. "some judge who thinks he's funny", that's pretty...brash for such an "old standard".

But not only are there these extra choruses, there's two verses!

Everytime I hear that march from Lohengrin,
I am always on the outside looking in,
Maybe that is why I see the funny side
When I see a fallen brother take a bride!

Weddings make a lot of people sad,
But if you're not the groom, it's not so bad.

Every time I hear that dear old wedding march
I feel rather glad I have a broken arch.
I have heard a lot of people talk
And I know that marriage is a long long walk.

To most people weddings mean romance
But I prefer a picnic or a dance.

From the same show:

Funny how that works, eh?

[page]

Really nice to see those videos. Thanks for posting! Singers often change the lyrics to make it more their own. Like these last two videos. Whether you'll sing "My baby" being a man or a woman does make a difference. So you can change some lines to make it more suitable for yourself and the objection of your affection you'll sing for, to make it more believable..
I have done this song and updated it a bit to modern times. F.e. in the last part, instead of "Liz Taylor is not his style" and " even Liberace's smile", I picked out some names of nowadays artists like Shakira and so on. Yes I know, she's not a jazzartist but I needed a well known name with same emphasis. It is fun to write your own lyrics.

Edited October 20, 2013 by page