As illustrations of this vital point, and to serve as examples for the examination of the elements of the popular lyric, read the words of the following famous songs; and while you are reading them you will see vividly how music completes the lyric.  Stripped of its music, a popular song-lyric is often about as attractive as an ancient actress after she has taken off all the make-up that in the setting of the stage made her look like a girl.  Words with music become magically one, the moving expression of the emotion of their day.

IMPORTANT NOTE

All the popular song lyrics quoted in this volume are copyright property and are used by special permission of the publishers, in each instance personally granted to the author of this book.  Many of the lyrics have never before been printed without their music.  Warning:—­Republication in any form by anyone whosoever will meet with civil and criminal prosecution by the publishers under the copyright law.

        ALEXANDER’S RAGTIME BAND

Words and Music by IRVING BERLIN

Oh, ma honey, oh, ma honey,
Better hurry and let’s meander,
Ain’t you goin’, ain’t you goin,’
To the leader man, ragged meter man,
Oh, ma honey, oh, ma honey,
Let me take you to Alexander’s grand stand, brass
  band,
Ain’t you comin’ along?

CHORUS

Come on and hear, come on and hear
Alexander’s ragtime band,
Come on and hear, come on and hear,
It’s the best band in the land,
They can play a bugle call like you never heard
  before,
So natural that you want to go to war;
That’s just the bestest band what am, honey lamb,
Come on along, come on along,
Let me take you by the hand,
Up to the man, up to the man, who’s the leader of
  the band,
And if you care to hear the Swanee River played in
  ragtime,
Come on and hear, come on and hear Alexander’s
ragtime Band.

Oh, ma honey, oh, ma honey,
There’s a fiddle with notes that screeches,
Like a chicken, like a chicken,
And the clarinet is a colored pet,
Come and listen, come and listen,
To a classical band what’s peaches, come now,
  somehow,
Better hurry along.

      THE TRAIL OF THE LONESOME PINE

Words by                 Music by
BALLARD MACDONALD          HARRY CARROLL

On a mountain in Virginia stands a lonesome pine,
Just below is the cabin home, of a little girl of mine,
Her name is June,
And very very soon,
She’ll belong to me,
For I know she’s waiting there for me,
’Neath that old pine tree.

REFRAIN