Papa used to tell me as a little child The only reason we're here is to make 'em smile Your heart may break and your world may fall But when you stand up there you stand ten feet tall So following in my father's shoes I learned to sing and dance and to play the blues I'll tell you now if you don't understand That I'm the livin' daughter of a Vaudeville man The trains ran east and the roads ran west And I knew every one of them My face was dirty but my ribbons were pressed They were crazy days but to have them back again One hand glued to the radio One hand practicing the piano One foot tapping out the dancing tune One sole trying just to make a dime And it's hand to mouth and it's mouth to hand Say I'm the living daugher of a Vaudeville man Say I'm the living daugher of a Vaudeville man