Jack Kaufman -"I'll See You In C-U-B-A" (1920)

I'll See You In C-U-B-A
Words and Music by Irving Berlin
Sung by Jack Kaufman
Recorded January 1920
Columbia A2898

This song, written shortly after the start of prohibition was Irving Berlin's humorous protest to the state of dryness in the US. His solution was to travel to Cuba where booze was still legal. The song first appeared in the 1920 Ziegfeld Midnight Frolic and enjoyed a fairly good recording run afterward with recordings that include performances by Billy Murray and Ted Lewis and his Orchestra. Twenty-six years later, it was revived by Bing Crosby in the film, Blue Skies (1946.)

I'll See You in C-U-B-A (lyrics)

Not so far from here
There's a very lively atmosphere
Ev'rybody's going there this year
And there's a reason, the season
Opened last July
Ever since the U. S. A. went dry
Ev'rybody's going there and I'm going too
I'm on my way to

(chorus)
Cuba, that's where I'm going
Cuba, that's where I'll stay
Cuba, where wine is flowing
And where dark-eyed Stellas
Light their feller's panatellas
Cuba, where all is happy
Cuba, where all is gay
Why don't you plan a wonderful trip
To Havana hop on a ship
And I'll see you in C - U - B - A

Take a friend's advise
Drinking in a cellar isn't nice
Anybody who has got the price
Should be a Cuban
Have you been longing for the smile
That you haven't had for quite a while
If you have, then follow and and I'll show the way
I'm on my way to

(chorus)

Category:

Music

Tags:

• I'll See You in C-U-B-A
• Cuba
• Irving Berlin
• Jack Kaufman
• 1920
• prohibition
• bootleg
• speakeasy
• beer
• booze
• scotch
• whiskey
• wine
• rum
• cigar
• panatella
• 78rpm
• Cuban
• Latin
• Caribbean
• Boardwalk Empire
• 18th
• amendment
• volstead

[MoleDFigg]

Great stuff, Bill, and congratulations on the excellent 'slide show'!!

Clive.

[bsgs98]

@MoleDFigg Thanks, Clive! There are so many great images available from the prohibition era in U.S. history. It was fun putting it together.

Bill

[olelady40]

Thanks! I haven't heard this in years. Always thought it was fun.

[bsgs98]

@olelady40 Thanks! There is also a great version sung by Billy Murray elsewhere on YT.