From “Broadway Brevities” of 1920 Words by Grant Clarke Music by Walter Donaldson
Sheet Music
Accompaniment
Lyrics
CHORUS:
I wish that I’d been born in Borneo
If half the photographs are really so.
Say, can you picture me
Beneath the pepper tree?
I’d be so peppery with all those wild women!
There’s very little clothing worn-e-o,
And no tight shoes to hurt your corn-e-o. Oh!
Give a girl a ring down there when you propose;
Then she’ll take the ring and stick it in her nose.
I’ve been wasting half my life, I know.
I wish that I’d been born in Borneo.
CHORUS:
I wish that I’d been born in Borneo
If half the photographs are really so.
Say, can you picture me
Beneath the pepper tree?
I’d be so peppery with all those wild women!
There’s very little clothing worn-e-o,
And no tight shoes to hurt your corn-e-o. Oh!
You should see them when they’re dressed for Sunday school.
You would think they just came back from the swimming pool.
Every man has twenty wives or so.
I wish that I’d been born in Borneo
From Eddie Cantor’s 78 record:
…can you picture me beneath a rubber tree?
What a rubberneck I’d be among those wild women.
‘stead of being born in Kokomo,
I wish that I’d been born in Borneo.