(Verse) I work at the Palace Ballroom Aw gee, that Palace is cheap! When I get back to my chilly hallroom I'm much too tired to sleep I'm one of those lady teachers A beautiful hostess you know One that the Palace features At exactly a dime a throw (Chorus) Ten cents a dance That's what they pay me Gosh, how they weigh me Down Ten cents a dance Pansies and rough guys Tough guys Who tear my gown Seven to midnight, I hear drums Loudly the saxophone blows Trumpets are tearing my eardrums Customers crush my toes Sometimes I think I've found my hero But it's a queer ro- Mance All you need is a ticket Come on, big boy Ten cents a dance (Bridge) Fighters and sailors And bow-legged tailors
Can pay for their tickets and rent me Butchers and barbers And rats from the harbor Are sweethearts my good luck has sent me Though I've a chorus Of elderly beaux Stockings are porous With holes in the toes I'm here till closing time Dance and be merry, it's only a dime (Chorus) Ten cents a dance That's what they pay me Gosh, how they weigh me Down Ten cents a dance Pansies and rough guys Tough guys Who tear my gown Seven to midnight, I hear drums Loudly the saxophone blows Trumpets are tearing my eardrums Customers crush my toes Sometimes I think I've found my hero But it's a queer ro- Mance All you need is a ticket Come on, big boy Ten cents a dance