Six Lessons from Madame La Zonga song

Song lyrics to Six Lessons from Madame La Zonga (1940) by James V. Monaco, Charles Newman, as recorded by Jimmy Dorsey & his Orchestra, vocal by Helen O’Connell

Have you ever been embarrassed when you’re in a small cafe,
And they play a Cuban tempo, is your dancing quite passe?
There’s a studio on Maine Street over Tony’s Clothing Store,
Where a very small investment pays you dividends galore!

Six lessons from Madame La Zonga,
You do the Rumba and the new La Conga.
Six lessons in Madame’s cabana
And you will imagine you’re down in Havana!

Her four Latin daughters will help you to start,
While finding the rhythm, you might lose your heart!

Six lessons from Madame La Zonga,
And you’ll develop your hips and your knees;
And say, by the way,
If you’re sure it’s okay,
If Madame likes you, the lessons are free!

Rosita gives you lesson one!
Chiquita gives you lesson two!
Madame gives you all the rest,
And her lessons are the best!

The Madame shows you how to walk,
The Madame marks it with her chalk;
When the Madame starts to squawk,
It’s her Cuban double talk!

Six lessons from Madame La Zonga,
And you’ll develop your hips and your knees;
And say, by the way,
If you’re sure it’s okay,
If Madame likes you, the lessons are free!

Other Recordings

• Charlie Barnet & His Orch. (vocal: Mary Ann McCall) – 1940
• Paula Green / Joe Loss & His Orch. – 1940
• Lupe Velez (feat. in the film “Six Lessons From Madame La Zonga“) – 1941
• The King Sisters, Gene Krupa , Sydney Lipton ,
• James V. Monaco , Sid Phillips , The Raisin Pickers, Mel Tormé.
• Performed on The Abbott and Costello Radio Show episode, “Madame La Zonga“