No. 18 - Duet - Estelle and Jotte - "The Right Side and the Wrong!"

Lyrics by Adrian Ross

[Estelle:] There is a right side and a wrong
To ev'rything, it seems to me.
[Jotte:] So you will find before you're long
In high society.
[Estelle:] I've found it easy when I tried
To get the right side of the men.
[Jotte:] But if you put on too much side,
How will you manage then?
There's a right side and a wrong side,
You be careful where you are.
[Estelle:] If a noble peer should come too near
He'll want to go too far.
[Jotte:] So remember when you sit out
With a marquis at a ball--
[Estelle:] Keep the right side of the palm trees--
[Both:] Then there isn't any harm at all!

[Estelle:] When you would ask a girl to dance,
A maiden full of modest charm,
[Jotte:] Then with a winning smile advance,
Offer your good right arm!
[Estelle:] Just put the arm around her waist,
But not the whole way round, you know,
[Jotte:] Wait till you've got her nicely placed,
Then, are you ready? Go!
[Estelle:] Step the right side, not the wrong side,
That's a thing to bear in mind,
[Jotte:] Or you give a whirl and land your girl
Right out of sight behind!
[Estelle:] Then you can't get on the right side,
Though you try all round the hall,
[Jotte:] And the lady says "You stupid!
[Both:] You don't know how to dance at all!"