[Dixielandjazz] Whattya sow, anyway? Whattya reap? Someday Sweetheart

Bill Haesler bhaesler at bigpond.net.au
Sun Mar 8 14:16:25 PDT 2009


Dick Baker wrote regarding the lyrics to "Someday Sweetheart":
> I noticed that the singer sang this lyric to "Someday Sweetheart":
> "And as you sow, so shall you reap,
> And what you reap will make you sow, someday sweetheart"
>
> Huh?  "What you reap will make you sow"?  Doesn't make any sense.   
> The lyric I've always known is
> "And what you reap will make you weep, someday sweetheart," which  
> makes sense AND rhymes.

Dear Dick,
Good question.
This is what I have, from a lyrics source that usually accesses  
original sheet music or recordings:

> "But as you sow, so shall you reap, - dear
> And what you reap, will make you weep, someday sweetheart"

Which confirms your observation.
It is, essentially, what Ethel Waters sang on her Oct 1927Columbia  
record, as did Bing Crosby for Decca in August 1934.
(I've just checked)
Alberta Hunter (who recorded the first version in May 1921) sang a  
different second line, so it doesn't help.
Very kind regards,
Bill.




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