Den of Iniquity
Despite the tepid reviews of their new club, Vera and Joey revel in their happy, if unconventional, arrangement. Lorenz Hart’s racy lyric, a daring departure from the virtuous love duets then found in operetta and Broadway, established Pal Joey as a frank, urbane theatrical experience for adults.
Vera:
Just two little lovebirds all alone
In a little cozy nest
With a little secret telephone,
That's the place to rest.
Joey:
Artificial roses ‘round the door –
They are never out of bloom –
Vera:
And a flowered carpet on the floor
In the loving room.
Both:
In our little den of iniquity
Our arrangement is good.
Vera:
It's much more healthy living here;
This rushing back home is bad, my dear,
Joey:
I haven't caught a cold all year.
Vera:
Knock on wood!
Both:
It was ever thus, since antiquity,
All the poets agree.
Vera:
The chambermaid is very kind,
She always thinks we're so refined.
Joey:
Of course, she's deaf and dumb and blind –
Both:
No fools, we –
In our little den of iniquity.
In our little den of iniquity
For a girly and boy,
Vera:
We'll sit and let the hours pass,
A canopy bed has so much class,
Joey:
And so's a ceiling made of glass –
Oh, what joy!
Both:
Love has been that way since antiquity,
Down to you and me.
Vera:
The radio, I used to hate,
But now when it is dark and late
Tchaikovsky's "1812" sounds great –
That's for me,
Both:
In our little den of iniquity.
Oh, what joy!
Joey:
We're very proper folks, you know.
Vera:
We've separate bedrooms comme il faut.
There's one for play and one for show.
Both:
You chase me
In our little den of iniquity.
“Den of Iniquity” by Richard Rodgers & Lorenz Hart
©1951 by Chappel & Co., Inc. Copyright Renewed.
Copyright Assigned to Williamson Music and WB Music Corp. for the extended renewal period of copyright in the USA.
International Copyright Secured. All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission.