White Christmas (1954 film)

The best things happen while you're dancing
Things that you would not do at home come nat'rally on the floor

For dancing soon becomes romancing
When you hold a girl in your arms that you've never held before

Even guys with two left feet
Come out all right if the girl is sweet
If by chance their cheeks should meet 

While dancing
Proving that the best things happen while you dance

[VERSE:]
The the'ter, the the'ter
What's happened to the the'ter?
Especially where dancing is concerned

[1st REFRAIN:]
Chaps who did taps aren't tapping anymore
They're doing choreography

Chicks who did kicks aren't kicking anymore
They're doing choreography

Queens with routines 
That would stop the show in days that used to be

One and all they're not chancing 
What we used to call dancing
Instead of dance, it's choreography

[2]
Jakes who did breaks aren't breaking anymore
They're doing choreography

Who did softshoe doesn't do it anymore
They're doing choreography

Heps who did steps
That would stop the show in days that used to be

Through the air they keep flying 
Like a duck that is dying
Instead of dance, it's choreography


[As sung in the film:]
The the'ter, the the'ter
What's happened to the the'ter?
Especially where dancing is concerned

Chaps who did taps aren't tapping anymore
They're doing choreography

Chicks who did kicks aren't kicking anymore
They're doing choreography

Heps who did steps
That would stop the show in days that used to be

Through the air they keep flying 
Like a duck that is dying
Instead of dance, it's choreography

When I'm worried and I can't sleep
I count my blessings instead of sheep 
And I fall asleep
Counting my blessings

When my bankroll is getting small 
I think of when I had none at all
And I fall asleep
Counting my blessings

I think about a nursery and I picture curly heads
And one by one I count them as they slumber in their beds

If you're worried and you can't sleep
Just count your blessings instead of sheep 
And you'll fall asleep
Counting your blessings

[VERSE:]
When I was mustered out
I thought without a doubt
That I was through with all my care and strife
I thought that I was then
The happiest of men
But after months of tough civilian life

[1st REFRAIN:]
Gee, I wish I was back in the Army
The Army wasn't really bad at all

Three meals a day
For which you didn't pay
Uniforms for winter, spring and fall

There's a lot to be said for the Army
The life without responsibility

A soldier out of luck
Was really never stuck
There's always someone higher up where you can pass the buck
Oh, gee, I wish I was back in the Army

[2nd REFRAIN, for female:]
Gee, I wish I was back in the Army
The Army was the place to find romance

Soldiers and WACS
The WACS who dressed in slacks
Dancing cheek to cheek and pants to pants

There's a lot to be said for the Army
A gal was never lost for company

A million handsome guys
With longing in their eyes
And all you had to do was pick the age, the weight, the size
Oh, gee, I wish I was back in the Army

[3rd REFRAIN:]
Gee, I wish I was back in the Army
The shows we got civilians couldn't see

How we would yell for Dietrich and Cornell
Jolson, Hope and Benny all for free
[alternate line from sheet music: 
Crosby, Hope and Jolson all for free]

There's a lot to be said for the Army
The best of doctors watched you carefully

A dentist and a clerk
For weeks and weeks they'd work
They'd make a thousand dollar job and give it to a jerk
Oh, gee, I wish I was back in the Army

[CODA:]
Three meals a day 
For which you didn't pay
A million handsome guys 
With longing in their eyes
I thought that I was through with all my care and strife
But after months and months of tough civilian life
Oh, gee
I wish I was back in the Army now

Love, you didn't do right by me
You planned a romance that just hadn't a chance
And I'm through

Love, you didn't do right by me
I'm back on the shelf and I'm blaming myself
But it's you

My one love affair didn't get anywhere from the start
To send me a Joe who had winter and snow in his heart
Wasn't smart

Love, you didn't do right by me
As they say in the song
"You done me wrong!"


[alternate line for male:]
To send me a Jane who had thunder and rain in her heart

We'll follow the old man wherever he wants to go
Long as he wants to go opposite to the foe

We'll stay with the old man wherever he wants to stay
Long as he stays away from the battle's fray

Because we love him, we love him
Especially when he keeps us on the ball

And we'll tell the kiddies we answered duty's call
With the grandest son of a soldier of them all

[As sung in film:]
Sisters, sisters, there were never such devoted sisters
- Never had to have a chaperone, "No sir"
- I'm here to keep my eye on her

Caring, sharing ev'ry little thing that we are wearing
- When a certain gentleman arrived from Rome
- She wore the dress and I stayed home

All kinds of weather, we stick together, the same in the rain or sun
Two diff'rent faces, but in tight places, we think and we act as one
Uh huh

Those who've seen us know that not a thing could come between us
Many men have tried to split us up, but no one can
Lord help the mister who comes between me and my sister
And Lord help the sister who comes between me and my man

Sisters
Sisters
Sister, don't come between me and my man


[Male version, not in film:]
Brothers, brothers, there were never such devoted brothers
When there comes a glamor girl who's nice and trim
He watches me and I watch him

Caring, sharing, ev'ry little thing that we are wearing
When a certain signorina came from Rome
He wore the blue serge, I stayed home

All kinds of weather, we stick together, the same in the rain or sun
Two diff'rent faces, but in tight places, we think and we act as one

Those who've seen us know that not a thing could come between us
Many girls have tried to split us up, but no one shall
Lord help another who comes between me and my brother
And Lord help the brother who comes between me and my gal


[Sheet music version:]
Sisters, sisters, there were never such devoted sisters
Never had to have a chaperone, "No sir"
I'm there to keep my eye on her

Caring, sharing ev'ry little thing that we are wearing
When a certain gentleman arrived from Rome
She wore the dress and I stayed home

All kinds of weather, we stick together, the same in the rain or sun
Two diff'rent faces, but in tight places, we think and we act as one

Those who've seen us know that not a thing could come between us
Many men have tried to split us up, but no one can
Lord help the mister who comes between me and my sister
And Lord help the sister who comes between me and my man

[As sung in film (more or less):]
Snow, it won't be long before we'll all be there with snow
Snow, I want to wash my hands, my face and hair with snow

Snow, I long to clear a path and lift a spade of snow
Snow, oh, to see a great big man entirely made of snow

Where it's snowing 
All winter through
That's where I want to be
Snowball throwing
That's what I'll do
How I'm longing to ski
Through the

Snow, those glist'ning houses that seem to be built of snow
Snow, oh, to see a mountain covered with a quilt of snow

What is Christmas with no snow
No white Christmas with no snow
Snow

I'll soon be there with snow
I'll wash my hair with snow
And with a spade of snow
I'll build a man that's made of snow
I'd love to stay up with you but I recommend a little shuteye
Go to sleep 
And dream 
Of snow, snow, snow, snow, snow

[VERSE:]
When the war was over, why, there were jobs galore
For the G.I. Josephs who were in the war
But for generals things were not so grand
And it's not so hard to understand

[REFRAIN:]
What can you do with a general
When he stops being a general?
Oh, what can you do with a general who retires?

Who's got a job for a general
When he stops being a general?
They all get a job but a general no one hires

They fill his chest with medals while he's across the foam
And they spread the crimson carpet when he comes marching home
The next day someone hollers when he comes into view
"Here comes the general" and they all say "General who?"
They're delighted that he came
But they can't recall his name

Nobody thinks of assigning him
When they stop wining and dining him
It seems this country never has enjoyed
So many one and two and three and four star generals
Unemployed

[Written for 1954 film White Christmas but not used:]

Sittin' in the sun, countin' my money
Fanned by a summer breeze
Sweeter than honey is countin' my money
Those greenbacks on the trees

Comes a summer show'r, drops o' rain falling
Sweeter than Christmas chimes
Hearing those jingles upon the roof shingles
Like pennies, nickels and dimes

Tho' it's known that all I own is not a large amount
Fields of gold that I behold are in my bank account

Sittin' in the sun, countin' my money
Happy as I can be
And to top it all
When shadows fall
I look to heaven and I see
There's a silver dollar in the sky
Shining down on me