Vive La France (Movie version)

Written for: Wonder Bar (1934)
Performer: Al Jolson
Lyric: Al Dubin
Music: Harry Warren
Year: 1934
Original publisher: M. Witmark & Sons

Sheet music version:

Verse:

Good evening ev'rybody, you are welcome here tonight,
Good evening, good evening!
To all you royal Russians and the Prussians on my right,
"Dobri vecher, güten abend."
To all you Frenchmen, let me say "Bonsoir,"
You're always welcome at my Wonder Bar.
Why do you come to gay Paree?
What brings you all to France?
Why do you leave your wives at home?
Let me tell you the answer:

Chorus 1:

The girls are fairer
Down on the Riviera;
So, give a, "Vive la, vive la France."
The wine is stronger,
The kisses linger longer;
So, give a, "Vive la, vive la France."
See all the charms of
The quaint old Latin Quarter;
Be in the arms of
A lovely Latin daughter.
So, let's make whoopee
And go, "Boop-boop-dee-oo-pee;"
And give a, "Vive la, vive la France!"

Chorus 2:

While wifey slumbers,
You're calling telephone numbers;
You want to "Vive la, vive la France."
You think she slumbers,
But she's out doing rumbas;
Down at a wiggle-o-gigolo dance.
Frenchmen are gallant,
The women can't resist 'em;
Frenchmen have talent,
You'd better learn their system!
Start, "Parley-vooing,"
Do we know what we're doing?
When we make, "Vive la, vive la…"
Fifty million Frenchmen can't be wrong,
"Vive, vive la France!"

Movie version:

Verse:

Good evening ev'rybody, you are welcome here tonight,
Good evening, good evening!
To all you royal Russians and the Prussians on my right,
"Dobri vecher, güten abend."
To all you Frenchmen, let me say "Bonsoir,"
You're always welcome at my Wonder Bar.
(Spoken:) Melba!
(Sung:) Why do you come to gay Paree?
Hey, why do you come to France?
Why do you leave your wives at home?
Let me tell you the answer:

Chorus 1:

The girls are fairer
Down on the Riviera;
So, give a, "Vive la, vive la France."
The wine is stronger,
The kisses last much longer;
So, give a "Vive la, vive la France."
See all the charms of
The quaint old Latin Quarter;
Be in the arms of
A lovely Latin daughter.
So, let's make whoopee
And go, "Boop-boop-dee-oo-pee;"
And give a, "Vive la, vive la France!"

Chorus 2:

While wifey slumbers,
You're calling telephone numbers;
You're making, "Vive la, vive la France."
You think she slumbers,
But she's out doing rumbas,
Down at a wiggle-o-gigolo dance.
Frenchmen are gallant,
The women can't resist 'em;
Frenchmen have talent,
You ought to try their system!
Start, "Parley-vooing,"
Do I know what I'm doing?
I'm making "Vive la, vive la…"
Fifty million Frenchmen can't be wrong,
(Spoken:) N'est pas?
(Sung:) "Vive, vive la France!"