Lulu’s Back in Town [song lyrics]

Song lyrics to Lulu’s Back in Town, written in 1935, lyrics by Al Dubin and music by Harry Warren.

“Lulu’s Back in Town” was performed in the 1935 film Broadway Gondolier, where it was sung by Dick Powell and The Mills Brothers.

You’ve heard about Margie
Heard about Dana
Heard about Suzie
But Lulu, Lulu

I gotta get my old tuxedo pressed
Gotta sew a button on my vest
‘Cause tonight I’ve gotta look my best
Lulu’s back in town
Gotta get a half a buck somewhere
Gotta shine my shoes and slick my hair
Gotta get myself a boutonniere
Lulu’s back in town
You can tell all my pets
All my blondes and brunettes
Mister Otis regrets
That he won’t be aroun’
You can tell the mailman not to call
I ain’t comin’ home until the fall
And I might not get back home at all
Lulu’s back in town

You’ve heard about Margie
Heard about Dana
Heard about Suzie
But Lulu, Lulu

I gotta get my tuxedo pressed
Gotta sew a button on my vest
‘Cause tonight I’ve gotta look my best
For Lulu
I gotta get a half a buck somewhere
Poloish up my shoes and slick my hair
Gotta get myself a boutonniere
Lulu
You can tell all my pets
All my blondes and brunettes
Mister Otis regrets
That he won’t be aroun’
You can tell the friends not to call
I won’t comin’ home till the fall
And I might not get back home at all
Lulu’s back in town
Lulu’s back in town
Lulu, Lulu, Lulu, Lulu, Lulu’s back in town

Trivia

• The line “Mister Otis regrets, that he won’t be aroun'” refers to the Cole Porter song “Miss Otis Regrets“.

Recordings

• “Lulu’s Back in Town” was popularized by Fats Waller in his recording of 8 May 1935 for Victor Records which made the US charts. Others who recorded it include Dick Powell, Mel Tormé, Mills Brothers, Wingy Manone, Chick Bullock, Bob Howard, Teddy Hill, Bert Ambrose, Ted Fiorito, Thelonious Monk, Art Tatum, Oscar Peterson, Booker T. & the M.G.’s, and Leon Redbone.

Media

• It was performed on The Red Skelton Hour by the singer — Lulu! Seriously.
• In the 1969-70 premiere season of Sesame Street, the song was performed by a pair of Muppets.
• Redd Foxx and Timmie Rogers performed the song on Sanford and Son in the episode, “Brother, Can You Spare an Act?”.
• Rachel York, as the character of Circe, sung a cover of “Lulu’s Back In Town” in the fifth episode of Justice league Unlimited.
• The 2008 film Be Kind Rewind uses the version done by Booker T. and the M.G.’s