[Dixielandjazz] Re: Lyrics for Dinah

[Bill Haesler]

> Does anyone have lyrics for the tune "Dinah"?

Dear Mark,
Here they are courtesy of the 'Heptune' Jazz & Blus Lyrics Page, via trusty
ole Google.
The Louis Armstrong (5 April 1930) version of the chorus is based on these
words but if you really want his interpretation on this and subsequent
recordings you will need to check out the record(s).
The claim made on the Heptune site that it was Frank Warshauer, and not
Harry Akst, who wrote the music is intriguing. I will see what I can find.
Very kind regards,
Bill. 


Dinah
(Frank Warshauer, [incorrectly attributed to Harry Akst], Sam Lewis, Joe
Young) 
Transcribed from the vocal by Ethel Waters, recorded October 20, 1925.

Verse:
Carolina 
Gave me Dinah; 
I'm the proudest one
Beneath the Dixie sun.

News is spreadin' 
'Bout our weddin'; 
I hear church bells ringin',
Here's the song my heart keeps singin':

Chorus:
Dinah, 
Is there anyone finer
In the state of Carolina?
If there is and you know her,
Show her! 

Dinah, 
With her Dixie eyes blazin',
How I love to sit and gaze in
To the eyes of Dinah Lee!

Yet, every night, 
My, how I shake with fright,
Because my Dinah might,
Change her mind about me!

But if Dinah, 
Ever wandered to China,
I would hop an ocean liner,
Just to be with Dinah Lee!

Dinah, 
Is there anyone finer
In the state of Carolina?
If there is and you know her,
Show her! 

Dinah, 
With her Dixie eyes blazin',
How I love to sit and gaze in
To the eyes of Dinah Lee!

Yet, every night, 
My, how I shake with fright,
Because my Dinah might,
Change her mind about me!

But if Dinah, 
Ever wandered to China,
I would hop an ocean!,
Just to be with Dinah Lee!