Emerson 10292 - Recorded 11/1920 - Eddie Cantor On Vocals. Reached US Billboard #5 02/1921 (Estimated). "Palesteena" written by J. Russell Robinson & Conrad Dober.Fox Trot. Vintage Egypt Egyptian Dancers Photo Slideshow - The Song Has An Egyptian Feel, A lot Of Things Did Around This Time From The Discovery Of King Tut's Tomb. "Palesteena", or, "Lena from Palesteena", was a 1920 song, with lyrics by Con Conrad, and music by J. Russell Robinson. It was originally recorded and performed by the Original Dixieland Jass Band, a band of New Orleans jazz musicians, who released it as an instrumental as a Victor 78, 18717-B, in 1920. The A side was "Margie", a jazz and pop standard, paired in a medley with "Singin' The Blues". The melody has a strong Klezmer influence. The lyrics are one of a number of novelty songs of the era with near-Eastern setting. Lyrics: In the Bronx of New York City Lived a girl, she's not so pretty Lena is her name. Such a clever girl is Lena How she played! her concertina Really, it's a shame. She's such a good musician She got a swell position To go across the sea to entertain. And so they shipped poor Lena Way out to Palesteena From what they tell me, she don't look the same. They say that Lena is the Queen o' Palesteena Just because she plays the concertina. She only knows one song, She plays it all day long Sometimes she plays it wrong, But still they love it What more of it I heard her play once or twice. Oh! Murder! Still, it was nice. All the
... 
