George Gershwin - Mischa, Jascha, Toscha, Sascha lyrics

We really think you ought to know
That we were born right in the middle
Of darkest Russia
When we were three years old or so
We all began to play the fiddle
In darkest Russia when we began
Our notes were sour until a man
Professor Auer
Set out to show us, one and all
How we could pack them in in Carnegie Hall

Temperamental Oriental gentlemen are we
Mischa, Jascha, Toscha, Sascha
Fiddle lee diddle lee dee
Shakespeare says, "What's in a name?"
With him we disagree
Names like Sammy, Max, or Moe
Never bring the heavy dough
Like Mischa, Jascha, Toscha, Sascha
Fiddle lee diddle lee dee

Though born in Russia, sure enough
We’re glad that we became relations
Of Uncle Sammy
For though we play the highbrow stuff
We also like the syncopations of Uncle Sammy
Our magic bow plays Liszt and Schumann
But then you know we're only human
And like to shake a leg to jazz
Don't think we’ve not the feelings
Everyone has

Temperamental Oriental gentlemen are we
Mischa, Jascha, Toscha, Sascha
Fiddle lee diddle lee dee
Highbrow he-brow may play lowbrow
In his privacy
But when concert halls are packed
Watch us stiffen up and act
Like Mischa, Jascha, Toscha, Sascha
Fiddle lee diddle lee dee

You find our pictures everywhere
They show you we're artistic persons
Who play the fiddle
When critics hear us, they declare
The rest are all so many worse 'uns
Who play the fiddle we're from the best
The critics said it but to the rest
We still give credit
And so we want it understood
We think that Paganini also was good

Temperamental Oriental gentlemen are we
Mischa, Jascha, Toscha, Sascha
Fiddle lee diddle lee dee
We give credit when it's due
But then you must agree
That outside of dear old Fritz
All the fiddle concert hit's
Are Mischa, Jascha, Toscha, Sascha
Fiddle lee diddle lee dee