[1st verse:] Old man Rosenthal lay sick in bed Soon the doctor came around and said "No use crying, the man is dying. He can't live very long!" "Send my son here to my side," they heard the old man say "I've got something to tell him before I pass away" Soon his son was sitting by his bed "What's the matter, Papa dear?" he said The old man said, "My son, before my days are done I want you to know: [Refrain:] Cohen owes me ninety-seven dollars And it's up to you to see that Cohen pays I sold a lot of goods to Rosenstein and Sons On an I.O.U. for ninety days Levi brothers don't get any credit They owe me for one hundred yards of lace If you promise me, my son, you'll collect from ev'ry one I can die with a smile on my face" [2nd verse:] Old man Rosenthal is better now He just simply wouldn't die somehow He is healthy and very wealthy since he got out of bed Such a change you never saw, he's got such rosy cheeks He picks up in just one week what should take weeks and weeks Ev'ryone who knew that he was sick Couldn't tell how he got well so quick They went and asked him to explain how he pulled through Rosenthal replied: [2nd refrain:] Cohen owed me ninety-seven dollars And my son went out and made poor Cohen pay A bill was owed to me by Rosenstein and Sons And they settled on that very day What could my son do with all that money If I should leave it all and say goodbye? It's all right to pass away, but when people start to pay That's no time for a bus'nessman to die
https://primoaccordo.net/irving-berlin/cohen-owes-me-ninety-seven-dollars.htm