Donkey Serenade   Allan Jones (1937), Perry Como

There's a song in the air,
But the fair senorita
Doesn't seem to care
For the song in the air.
So I'll sing to my mule
If you're sure she won't think that
I am just a fool
Serenading a mule.

Amigo mio, does she not have a dainty bray?
She listens carefully to each little word we play.
La bella Senorita?
Si, si, mi muchachito,
She'd love to sing it too if only she knew the way.
But try as she may,
In her voice there's a flaw!
And all that the lady can say
Is "E-E-AW!"

There's a light in her eye,
Tho' she may try to hide it,
She cannot deny,
There's a light in her eye.
Oh! the charm of her smile
So beguiles all who see her
That they'd ride a mile
For the charm of her smile.

Amigo mio, is she listenin' to my song?
No, no, mi muchachito, how could you be so wrong?
La bella Senorita?
Si, Si, la senorita,
If she knew all the words,

Well, maybe she'd sing along . . .

Her face is a dream
like an angel I saw!
But all that my darlin' can scream is: "E-E-AW!"
Senorita donkey sita, not so fleet as a mosquito,
But so sweet like my Chiquita,
You're the one for me.
 
You're  . . . the one . . . for me!
 
Music by Rudolf Friml and Herbert Stothart,
with lyrics by Robert Wright and George Forest , 1937

Notes: ~ originally a piano solo titled "Chanson" to which words were added in 1927 by Dailey Paskman, Sigmund Spaeth and Irving Caesar and re-titled "Chansonette." The final version with new title, lyrics, and some music changes, was introduced by Allan Jones in the 1937 Hollywood musical "Firefly." Allan Jones (father of singer Jack Jones), with whom the song is most associated, recorded it for Victor. The song was also heard in Hollywood musicals "Crazy House," 1943, and "Anchors Aweigh" in 1945.