Verse One 
All you preach-ers  
Who de-light in slamming the danc-ing teach-ers,
Let me tell you there are a lot of fea - tures
Of the dance that car-ry you through The gates of Hea-ven.
It's mad-ness  
To be al-ways sit-ting a - round in sad-ness,
When you could be learn-ing the steps of glad-ness.

You'll be hap-py when you can do  Just six or sev-en;
Be-gin to day!  You'll find  it  nice,
The quck-est way  to  pa - ra-dise.
When you prac-tise,  Here's the thing to do,
Sim-ply say as you go____

Refrain 
I'll build a stair-way to Pa - ra-dise 
With a new step ev-'ry day!
I'm going to get there at a-ny price;
Stand a - side, I'm on my way!
I've got the  blues_____
And up a - bove it's so fair. 
Shoes! Go on and car-ry me there!
I'll build a stair-way to  Pa - ra-dise
With a new  step  ev-'ry day. 

Verse Two
Ev-ry new step  Helps a bit;
but an-y old kind of two step
Does as well.
It don't matter what step you step,
If you work it in-to your soul
You'll get to Hea-ven.  Get bu-sy;
Dance with Maud the countess, or just plain Liz-zy:
dance un-til you're blue in the face and diz-zy.

When you've learn'd to dance in your sleep
You're sure to win out.  
In time you'll get  Saint Vi - tus dance, 
which  beats thela - test thing  from France.
Take no chan-ces  on this Pa -ra-dise; 
Let me give you ad - vice.____

[Repeat the Refrain]

Circa 1922
Words by B.G. De Sylva & Arthur Francis
Music by George Gershwin