tillie the twirler

down at the bijou they stand in line

the movie's lousy but the show's real fine

they got a gal there you won't forget

she's got the power of an old prop jet

when she's on the stage she always gives you her all

if you know your geography then you'll recall

minneapolis and saint paul

when tillie twirls her tassels around

last night she danced and pulled out all the stops

she dropped a tassel and someone called the cops

you can't go topless in a one-horse town

and so the sheriff went and closed the bijou down

the local censors and the courts agree

there must be some redeeming social quality

or else it's just a menace to society

when tillie twirls her tassels around

you see she wants to be a prima ballerina

so tell me everybody doesn't that redeem her?

she's got to make a living

to pay for all those lessons

so give the girl a break

don't make a big mistake

and maybe some day you will see her starring in swan lake

open the bijou and let her dance

we gotta give this kid a second chance

let's get together and maybe then

we can start those tassels twirling again

so everybody won't you open your hearts

let's not end the girl's career before it starts

you and you and you and you patrons of the arts

let tillie twirl her tassels

don't give her any hassles

won't you let this stripper

trade a g-string for a slipper

shes' the next pavlova so won't you think it over

let tillie twirl her tassles around

somebody get this girl a swan