ABSTRACT
Noël Coward's “Poor Little Rich Girl,” a song of 1925, describes the giddy life of a prodigal daughter of the Jazz Age, a life given over to pleasures of dancing, drinking, and sex. “You're weaving love into a mad jazz pattern / Ruled by pantaloon,” warns the refrain (36–7). “Dance, Little Lady” (1928) speaks similarly of the deleterious effects of jazz on a young woman: Though you're only seventeen far too much of life you've seen, Syncopated child. Maybe if you only knew where your path is leading to You'd become less wild. But I know it's vain trying to explain While there's this insane music in your brain. (42–3)
