Lyrics Tango Ballad (From "The Threepenny Opera") - Lotte Lenya, Scott Merrill

Tango Ballad (From "The Threepenny Opera")

There was a time, and now it’s all gone by
When we two lived together, she and I
The way we were, was just the way to be
I cared for her, and she took care of me
And that arrangement seemed to work perfectly
The milkman rang the bell, I got out of bed
I opened up her purse, paid him what he said
I had a glass of milk, and back in bed I’d climb
You understand she was out working all the time
And so we lived, me and my little mouse
In that snug two by four where we kept house
That was a time, and now it’s all gone by
When we were poor but happy, he and I
But when the day would bring no job to me
He’d curse and say how lazy can you be
I’ll let him huff and puff
I’ve worked long enoguh
But when he drank too much, I’d get kinda grim
And shout the house down how I stood a clown like him
And then he’d turn around and try to bite my arm
And I would kick him in the teeth, meaning no harm
It was so sweet to be his little spouse
In that foul two by four where played house
Oh happy time and now it’s all gone by
Until we quit each other, you and I
You stayed in bed all day and don’t you smirk
You know we said that you’d do all the work
Now sleep’s for the night they say
It ain’t bad by day
So then I had my fill, swore I wouldn’t stir
It looked like soon I would be taking care of her
You’d think a woman had a right to have one gripe
You left me flat.
Well I just ain’t the working type
We locked the door and each commenced to roam
Goodbye sweet two by four that we called home