Gather around I got a story to tell About a Manhattan lady That I know very well She lives a 5 Riverside Her name is Shirley Devore And she travelled 'round the world To meet the guy next door Well there was trouble inside Apartment 29 E And Shirley's mother and dad Were as upset as can be They said, "We hate to complain, dear. And we don't like to grouse. But you're nearly 32, You should get out of the house!" You gotta ring them bells You gotta ring them bells You gotta make 'em sing And really ring them bells It's such a happy thing To hear 'em ting-a-ling You gotta ring... them... bells! Well Shirley was 31 Which she had loathed to admit And she had never been loved Which didn't thrill her a bit And so she sat and she thought She thought for hours on end She said, "I'll go to Chase Manhattan Where I got me a friend!" And so she borrowed a thou' And called TWA And told her mother and dad That she was up and away "I'm gonna travel the continent A month, maybe two And haul me home a huz If it's the last thing I do!" (giggles) You gotta ring them bells You gotta ring them bells You gotta make 'em sing And really ring them bells It's such a happy thing To hear 'em ting-a-ling You gotta ring... them... bells! She met a Londoner first But they did not hit it off 'Cause every time she approached, He got a bronchial cough And so she went to Madrid And met a handsome seņor But he liked to throw the bull And he was no matador She also bombed out in Brussels, In Majorca, and Rome 'Til someone said, "Try Dubrovnik, dear Before you go home 'Cause it's the kind of a town Where you'll be likely to fall And all the toni Cognoscenti Find the Balkans a ball!" You gotta ring them bells You gotta ring them bells Yo gotta make 'em sing And really ring them bells It's such a happy thing To hear 'em ting-a-ling You gotta ring... them... bells! And so she went to Dubrovnik And the very first day, She met a guy on the beach Who took her reason away Yes, it was love at first sight And quite a beautiful scene She said, "My name is Shirl Devore." He said, "I'm Norm Sapperstein." She said, "Are you from New York?" He said, "That can't be denied. I got a swell junior three At number 5 Riverside." [Liza speaking] 5?! 5 Riverside Drive in New York?! That's where you live? That-that's where I live! 5?! Are you sure? As if that wasn't enough Poor Shirley thought she'd gone deaf When he told her his apartment there Was 29 F! Yes, she was E, he was F And they had not even met Until she travelled the world To Yugoslavia yet He'd always been right next door And she would never have known If she hadn't tried Dubrovnik, She might still be alone! Well... there's... a... Moral to learn From little Shirley Devore Who had to borrow a thou' To find a lover next door You girls who live in apartments Don't just stare at the wall! Open up the door And hurry out in the hall! And... Ring them bells! Come on, come on! Ring them bells! Make 'em sing! And really ring them bells! It's such a happy thing To hear 'em ting-a-ling! You gotta swing them! Ring them! Swing them! Ring... them... bells!!