Classic Poem

  VERSE 1

Father has a bus'ness,
Strictly second hand.
Ev'rything from toothpicks
To a baby grand.
Stuff in our apartment
Came from Father's store,
Even things I'm wearing
Someone wore before.
It's no wonder that I feel abused.
I never have a thing that ain't been used.

  REFRAIN 1

I'm wearing second hand hats,
Second hand clothes,
That's why they call me
Second hand Rose.
Even our piano in the parlor
Father bought for ten cents on the dollar.
Second hand pearls,
I'm wearing second hand curls.
I never get a single thing that's new.
Even Jake the plumber,
He's the man I adore,
Had the nerve to tell me
He's been married before.
Ev'ryone knows
That I'm just second hand Rose
From Second Avenue.

  VERSE 2

Each one in the fam'ly
Kicks the whole day long.
Ev'ryone's disgusted,
Ev'rything is wrong.
Second handed doggie,
Second handed cat,
Second handed welcome,
Second handed mat.
I think father's head is made of wood.
He brings home lots of things that ain't no good.

  REFRAIN 2

I'm wearing second hand shoes,
Second hand hose,
All the girls hand me
Their second hand beaux.
Even my pajamas when I don 'em
Have somebody else's initials on 'em.
Second hand rings,
I'm sick of second hand things,
I never get what other girlies do.
Once while strolling through the Ritz
A girl got my goat,
She nudged her friend and said, “Oh! look,
There's my old fur coat.”
Ev'ryone knows
That I'm just second hand Rose
From Second Avenue.