My youth was spent in the Orient
where they never taught me to waltz
You'd be surprised when I exercised
it was never done to a waltz!
It was "done" like this . . .
but never to a waltz!

In ancient Siam, women like I am
indoors or on the street . . .
No woman . . . dances with her feet!
Egyptian, Persian, only one version
no other stands a chance,
feet are for walking,
not for dance!

To an oriental fiddle,
you can see them shake their middle,
the feet don't mean a thing
middles are all they swing!

Even an Egyptian "mummy"
wiggles her tummy
wiggles it so an' so
that is the only dance ! know!

< instrumental break >

You don't need an Arthur Murray
just a fringe that's on the surrey
will satisfy your needs
dancing between the beads!

Everybody shake your torso
sexy but more-so,
shake it, come on, let's go . . .
Let's do the only dance I know!

Words and Music by Irving Berlin