Miss Otis regrets she's unable to lunch today,
Madam,
Miss Otis regrets she's unable to lunch today.
She is sorry to be delayed,
But last evening down in lover's lane she strayed,
Madam,
Miss Otis regrets she's unable to lunch today.
When she woke up and found
That her dream of love was gone,
Madam,
She ran to the man
Who had led her so far astray,
And from under her velvet gown
She drew a gun and shot her lover down,
Madam,
Miss Otis regrets she's unable to lunch today.
When the mob came and got her
And dragged her from the jail,
Madam,
They strung her upon
The old willow across the way,
And the moment before she died
She lifted up her lovely head and cried,
Madam,
"Miss Otis regrets she's unable to lunch today."
Notes
This poem was written, as a song, for Ada (bricktop) Smith. Mz Smith was a well known performer and it is thought that Porter used to hire her to entertain his guests and teach them the Charleston.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ada_%22Bricktop%22_Smith
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Comments
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I can only ever think of this as a 'song' - albeit a talking song. Was it a song by Cole Porter recited as a poem or vice-versa? I suppose we shall never now much more of this macabre tale..
Von -
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Written, as a song, for Ada (bricktop) Smith
more details here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ada_%22Bricktop%22_Smith
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