George Gershwin - The Babbitt and the Bromide lyrics

A babbitt met a bromide
On the avenue one day
And held 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

Ha ha!

Touch wood!

Well, well!

What say?

How've you been?

Nice day

How's things?

What's new?

That's fine

How are you? Nice weather we are having
But it gives me such a pain
I've brought my umbrella
So of course it doesn't rain

Well, hi-ho!

That's life

What's new?

How's the wife?

Got to run

Oh, my!

Ta ta!

Olive oil!

Goodbye

Ten years went quickly by
For both these substi-antial 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

Hello!

How are you?

How's the folks?

What's new?

I'm great!

That's good

Ha ha!

Touch wood!

Well, well!

What say?

How've you been?

Nice day

How's things?

What's new?

That's fine

How are you?

I seem to know your face
But I just can't recall your name

Well, how've you been, old boy?
You're looking just about the same

Well, hi-ho!

That's life

What's new?

How's the wife?

Got to run

Oh, my!

Ta ta!

Olive oil!

Goodbye

Before they met again
Some twenty years they had to wait
This time it happened up above
Inside of Peter's Gate

A harp they both were carrying
And both were wearing wings
And this is what they said
As they were strumming on the strings:

Hello!

How are you?

How's the folks?

What's new?

Got to run

Oh, my!

Ta ta!

Olive oil!

Goodbye