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It All Belongs To Me

1927

LYRICS

Take a look at the flower in my buttonhole

Take a look say and ask me why it’s there

Can’t you see that I’m all dressed up to take a stroll?

Can’t you tell that there’s something in the air?

I’ve got a date, can hardly wait

I’d like to bet she won’t be late

Here she comes, come on and meet

A hundred pounds of what is mighty sweet

And it all belongs to me

Flashing eyes and how they roll

A disposition like a sugar bowl

And it all belongs to me

That pretty baby face

That bunch of style and grace

Should be in Tiff’ny’s window in a platinum jewel case

Hey there, you

You’ll get in dutch

I’ll let you look but then you mustn’t touch

For it all belongs to me

Here she comes, come on and meet

A hundred pounds of what is mighty sweet

And it all belongs to me

Rosy cheeks, red hot lips

And polished nails upon her fingertips

And it all belongs to me

Those lips that I desire are like electric wire

She kissed a tree last summer ooo she started a forest fire

I’m in love with what she’s got

And what she’s got, she’s got an awful lot

And it all belongs to me

A million dollars worth of flying hips

SONG NOTES

Sung by Ruth Etting, this song describes an upcoming date with her female sweetheart. The depiction of the narrator adding a boutonnière to her strolling attire brings to mind images of lesbians from the 1920s in dapper menswear, with the potential for transgender readings.

The lyrics are very clearly filled with pride and desire. Of note are the lyrics: "She kissed a tree last summer ooo she started a forest fire." Having lips that were so hot they burned was actually a common theme in music of the era!

LANGUAGE

English

CITATION

Columbia matrix W144593. It all belongs to me / Ruth Etting. 1927. In Discography of American Historical Recordings. https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/matrix/detail/2000034308/W144593-It_all_belongs_to_me.