George Gershwin — Mischa Jascha Toscha Sascha

(Verse 1) We really think you ought to know That we were born right in the middle Of darkest Russia When we were three years old or so We all began to play the fiddle In darkest Russia When we began Our notes were sour Until a man Professor Auer Set out to show us, one and all How we could pack them in In Carnegie Hall (Chorus 1) Temperamental Oriental gentlemen are we Mischa, Jascha, Toscha, Sascha Fiddle-lee diddle-lee dee Shakespeare says, "What's in a name?" With him we disagree Names like Sammy, Max, or Moe Never bring the heavy dough Like Mischa, Jascha, Toscha, Sascha Fiddle-lee diddle-lee dee (Verse 2) Though born in Russia, sure enough We’re glad that we became relations Of Uncle Sammy For though we play the highbrow stuff We also like the syncopations Of Uncle Sammy Our magic bow Plays Liszt and Schumann But then you know We're only human And like to shake a leg to jazz Don't think we’ve not the feelings Everyone has (Chorus 2) Temperamental Oriental gentlemen are we Mischa, Jascha, Toscha, Sascha Fiddle-lee diddle-lee dee Highbrow he-brow may play lowbrow In his privacy But when concert halls are packed Watch us stiffen up and act Like Mischa, Jascha, Toscha, Sascha Fiddle-lee diddle-lee dee (Verse 3) You find our pictures everywhere They show you we're artistic persons Who play the fiddle When critics hear us, they declare The rest are all so many worse 'uns Who play the fiddle We're from the best The critics said it But to the rest We still give credit And so we want it understood We think that Paganini also was good (Chorus 3) Temperamental Oriental gentlemen are we Mischa, Jascha, Toscha, Sascha Fiddle-lee diddle-lee dee We give credit when it's due But then you must agree That outside of dear old Fritz All the fiddle concert hits Are Mischa, Jascha, Toscha, Sascha Fiddle-lee diddle-lee dee