Classic Poem

VERSE 1

A Babbitt met a Bromide on the avenue one day,
They 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.

REFRAIN 1

Hello! How are you?
Howza folks? What's new?
I'm great! That's good!
Ha! Ha! Knock wood!
Well! Well! What say?
Howya been? Nice day!
How's tricks? What's new?
That's fine! How are you?
Nice weather we are having but it gives me such a pain:
I've taken my umbrella, so of course it doesn't rain.
Heigh ho! That's life!
What's new? Howza wife?
Gotta run! Oh, my!
Ta! Ta! Olive oil! Good-bye!

VERSE 2

Ten years went quickly by for both these sub-sti-an-tial men,
Then history records 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:

REFRAIN 2

Hello! How are you?
Howza folks? What's new?
I'm great! That's good!
Ha! Ha! Knock wood!
Well! Well! What say?
Howya been? Nice day!
How's tricks? What's new?
That's fine! How are you?
I'm sure I 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.
Heigh ho! That's life!
What's new? Howza wife?
Gotta run! Oh, my!
Ta! Ta! Olive oil! Good-bye!

VERSE 3

Before they met again some twenty years they had to wait.
This time it happened up above, inside St. Peter's gate.
A harp each one was carrying and both were wearing wings,
And this is what they sang as they kept strumming on the strings:

REFRAIN 3

Hello! How are you?
Howza folks? What's new?
I'm great! That's good!
Ha! Ha! Knock wood!
Well! Well! What say?
Howya been? Nice day!
How's tricks? What's new?
That's fine! How are you?
You've grown a little stouter since I saw you last, I think.
Come up and see me sometime and we'll have a little drink.
Heigh ho! That's life!
What's new? Howza wife?
Gotta run! Oh, my!
Ta! Ta! Olive oil! Good-bye!