SHUFFLE OFF TO BUFFALO
From the film "42nd Street" (1933)
(Al Dubin / Harry Warren)
Ruby Keeler, Clarence Nordstrum,
Ginger Rogers & Una Merkel (Film Soundtrack) - 1933
Don Bestor & His Orch. (vocal: Maurice Cross) - 1933
Hal Kemp & His Orch. (vocal: Skinnay Ennis) - 1933
Billy Cotton & His Band (vocal: Alan Breeze) - 1933
The Boswell Sisters - 1933
Les & Larry Elgart (Instr.) - 1959
Harry Nilsson - 1976
Carole Cook, Joseph Bova & Karen Prunczik - 1980
Jonathan Freeman, Mylinda Hull & Mary Testa - 2001
Also recorded by:
Alice Faye; Ray Ellis; Gus Farney; Buddy Morrow;
Hal Mooney & His Orch; Roy Smeck; Ralph Sharon;
Dan Hill & His Orch; Vincent Youmans; Dave Pell;
Washboard Rhythm Kings; Robert Maxwell; Cub Koda;
Forty Second Street Singers; London Sinfonietta;
Vincent Youmans.
Now that we have had the rice and flowers
The knot is tied
I can visu'lize such happy hours
Close by your side
The honeymoon in store
Is one that you'll adore
I'm gonna take you for a ride
I'll go home and get my panties
You go home and get your scanties
And away we'll go
Mmm-mmm-mmm
Off we're gonna shuffle
Shuffle off to Buffalo
To Niag'ra in a sleeper
There's no honeymoon that's cheaper
And the train goes slow
Ooh-ooh- ooh
Off, we're gonna shuffle
Shuffle off to Buffalo
Someday, the stork may pay a visit
And leave a little souvenir
Just a little cute "what is it"
But we'll discuss that later, Dear
For a little silver quarter
We can have the Pullman porter
Turn the lights down low
Ooh!
Off we're gonna shuffle
Shuffle off to Buffalo
*****
As performed in the film "42nd Street":
Now that we have had the rice and flowers
The knot is tied
I can visu'lize such happy hours
Close by your side
The honeymoon in store
Is one that you'll adore
I'm gonna take you for a ride
I'll go home and get my panties
You go home and get your scanties
And away we'll go
Mmm-mmm-mmm
Off we're gonna shuffle
Shuffle off to Buffalo
To Niag'ra in a sleeper
There's no honeymoon that's cheaper
And the train goes slow
Ooh-ooh-ooh
Off, we're gonna shuffle,
Shuffle off to Buffalo
Someday, the stork may pay a visit
And leave a little souvenir
Just a little cute "what is it"
But we'll discuss that later, Dear
For a little silver quarter
We can have the Pullman porter
Turn the lights down low
Ooh-ooh-ooh
Off we're gonna shuffle
Shuffle off to Buffalo
You'll go home and get your purses
I'll go get my niece and nurses
And away we'll go
Mmm-mmm-mmm
Off we're gonna shuffle,
Shuffle off to Buffalo
To Niag'ra in a sleeper
There's no honeymoon that's cheaper
And the train goes slow
Ooh-ooh-ooh
Off we're gonna shuffle
Shuffle off to Buffalo
Someday, the stork may pay a visit
And leave a little souvenir
Just a little cute "what is it"
But we'll discuss that later, Dear
For a little silver quarter
We can have the Pullman porter
Turn the lights down low
Ooh-ooh-ooh
Off we're gonna shuffle
Shuffle off to Buffalo
Matrimony is baloney
She'll be wanting alimony
In a year of so
Still they go and shuffle
Shuffle Off to Buffalo
When she knows as much as we know
She'll be on her way to Reno
While he still has dough
She'll give him the Shuffle
When they're back from Buffalo
*****
When recorded by singers in England, "panties"
and "scanties" were replaced with the words
"clothses" and "these and thoses":
Now that we have had the rice and flowers
The knot is tied
I can visu'lize such happy hours
Close by your side
The honeymoon in store
Is one that you'll adore
I'm gonna take you for a ride
I'll go home and get my clotheses
You go get your these and thoses
And away we'll go
Off we're gonna shuffle
Shuffle off to buffalo
To Niagara in a sleeper,
There's no honeymoon that's cheaper
And the train goes slow, Mmm!
Off we're gonna shuffle
Shuffle off to buffalo
Someday, the stork may pay a visit
And leave a little souvenir
Just a little cute "What is it?"
But we'll discuss that later, Dear
For a little silver quarter
We can have the Pullman porter
Turn the lights down low
Off we're gonna shuffle
Shuffle off to buffalo
With the wedding ring upon your finger
It's done, we're one
It's not customary that we linger
And so let's go
We'll dodge the rice and shoes
We're going for a cruise
Way up the road to Buffalo
I'll go home and get my clotheses
You go get your these and thoses
And away we'll go
Off we're gonna shuffle
Shuffle off to buffalo
To Niagara in a sleeper
There's no honeymoon that's cheaper
And the train goes slow, Mmm!
Off we're gonna shuffle
Shuffle off to buffalo
Someday, the stork may pay a visit
And leave a little souvenir
Just a little cute "What is it?"
But we'll discuss that later, Dear
While the passengers are sleeping
The Conductor will be keeping
All the lights down low
Ooh, off we're gonna shuffle
Shuffle off to buffalo
Shuffle off to Buffalo
(Contributed by Bill Huntley - December 2004)
