Schubert wrote a symphony
Too bad he didn't finish it
Gershwin took a chord in 'G'
Proceeded to diminish it
I sought a variation
on a theme that I thought pretty
And I found my inspiration
on the east side of the city

The Cohens and the Kellys
The Campbells and Vermicellis
All form a part of my tenement symphony

The Cohen's pianola
The Kellys and their victrola
All warm the heart of my tenement symphony

The Campbells come tumb'lin' down the stairs
Hoodlie-ah, hoodlie-ah, hoodlie-ah
Oh Marie, oh Marie
You'll be late for your date with Izzy.

And from this confusion
I dreamed of a grand illusion
It's my tenement symphony in four flats

And from this confusion
I dreamed of a grand illusion
It's my tenement symphony in four flats