The Babbit and the Bromide Songtext
von Fred Astaire

A babbit and a bromide met on the avenue one day, and had a conversation in their own peculiar way. They both were solid citizens, they both had been around. And as they spoke you clearly saw their feet were on the ground.


***
Hello!
How are you?
How′s the folks?
What's new?
I′m great.
That's good.
Haha!
Knock wood.
Well, well.
That's life.
What do you know?
How′s your wife?
Gotta run.
Oh, my.
Ta ta!
Olive oil.
Goodbye.

Ten years went quickly by for both these substantial men. And then it happened that one day they chanced to meet again. That they had both developed in ten years there was no doubt. And so of course they had an awful lot to talk about. (Repeat **)

Before they met again some 20 years they had to wait. This time it happened up above inside St. Peter′s gate. A harp each one was carrying and both were sprouting wings. And this was what they said as they were strumming on the strings. (Repeat **)