WHO’LL TAKE CARE OF THE HAREM
Subtitle
When the Sultan Goes to War
Type
Song
Composer
Wm. J. Lewis
Lyricist
Jimmie Kaufmann, Archie Mayer
Performers
Bernard Ganville
Publisher
Maurice Richmond Music Co., Inc., New York
Cover Artist
E. H. Pfeiffer
Notes

This is one of series of songs on a similar theme: [western] men who volunteer to take care of the Harem while the Sultan is away. Cf. "Give Me The Harem," "In My Harem," etc.

The reference to [Saint] Paul's travels in Turkey/Asia Minor is something surprising, but since Paul was unmarried, the boast is rather hollow.

Lyrics

I can't sleep a wink at night I'm worried all the day,
To find out a certain thing, I've tried in ev'ry way,
I have even gone so far to cable 'cross the sea,
Just to see if there's a way to solve this mystery.

CHORUS:
Who'll take care of the Harem when the Sultan goes to war,
He's gone out in a world of harm leaving behind a poultry farm,
He would die for Turkey, but he loves his chicken more,
That's the job I'd like to get, I wish it were for keeps.
And I would do more in one day than Paul did in three weeks,
If he'd let me mind his Harem, When the Sultan goes to war.

I know why dear Turkey was the last to go to war,
If the Sultan had no harem he'd been there before,
He tried hard to get a man to take care of his wives.
Over here they look for jobs like that all thru their lives.

CHORUS:
Who'll take care of the Harem when the Sultan goes to war,
He's gone out in a world of harm leaving behind a poultry farm,
He would die for Turkey, but he loves his chicken more,
If I were his majesty in leaves I'd dress them all
And then I'd close the windows when the leaves began to fall,
If he'd just let me mind the Harem, When the Sultan goes to war.

Country
Turkey