A popular song from 1915. Words and Music Irving Berlin. Copyright ©27 Aug 1915. Sheet Music from the collection of Michael Deatz.
Sheet Music
Accompaniment
Lyrics
Chorus:
Cohen owes me ninety-seven dollars
And it’s up to you to see that Cohen pays
I sold a lot of goods to Rosenstein and Sons
On an I.O.U. for ninety days
Levi brothers don’t get any credit
They owe me for one hundred yards of lace
If you promise me, my son
You’ll collect from every one
I can die with a smile on my face”
Chorus:
Cohen owed me ninety-seven dollars
And my son went out and made poor Cohen pay
A bill was owed to me by Rosenstein and Sons
And they settled on that very day
What could my son do with all that money
If I should leave it all and say goodbye?
It’s all right to pass away
But when people start to pay
That’s no time for a businessman to die