You should have been in New York City
Before the crash in twenty nine
Everybody had lots of dough
The bathtub gin would overflow
Back when the bands played in ragtime
There was a cop they called O’Reilly
He loved a girl in the chorus line
But she was just no good
She ran around with all the hoods
Back when the bands played in ragtime 24
She asked O’Reilly for a favour
And he agreed ‘cause love is blind
A friend of hers was runnin’ booze
Would he take a bribe, what did he have to lose
Back when the bands played in ragtime
The mob was loadin’ stolen liquor
When they heard the siren wine
The cops came where the booze was stored
O’Reilly got a big reward
Back when the bands played in ragtime
O’Reilly sent his love to prison
She was there ‘til thirty nine
To top it off he was untrue
He got married in thirty two
Back when the bands played in ragtime
Ah you should have been in New York City
Before the crash in twenty nine
Everybody had lots of dough
The bathtub gin would overflow
Back when the bands played in ragtime
Back when the bands played in ragtime
Back when the bands played in ragtime