Kern writes out a 4-line original limerick underneath which he pens four bars from his famous song “They Didn't Believe me”:/ In years she's, maybe, seventeen./ She wears a kiss curl on her bean./ Her “thing-um-ma-bobs” are crepe-de-chine/ Oh what the Hell ---she's just IRENE“. Underneath this limerick, Kern has written a four-bar musical quotation and the following lyrics underneath: “And from This Great big World/She's chosen Victor Herbert/Curses!!” The quotation is the last part of the refrain from the song "They Didn't believe me” which reads:" "They'll never believe me. They'll never believe me. That from this great big world you've chosen me!"

The lyrics Kern has set to his musical quotation, "And from this Great big World/She's chosen Vitor Herbert/Curses!!" is an amusing reference to his great rival at the time, the larger-than-life operetta composer Victor Herbert ("Naughty Marietta", Babes in Toyland", etc.). It also reflects the rival camp of the Witmark Publishing House where Herbert was one of its stars.

Kern's limerick and quote were written in an album belonging to Irene Gallagher, the Irene of the song "Good Night, Irene", as issued in sheet music with her picture on the cover and popularized by Leadbelly. Gallagher was the "Girl Friday" of the publisher Max Dreyfus and knew all of the up and coming young composers of the day. Dreyfus was one of the most creative and influential music publishers in New York. He established such greats as Kern and Gershwin and had a dominant position in Tin Pan Alley.

Chauncy Olcott, who signed Irene Gallagher's album leaf on the verso, was a singer and actor who wrote several hit songs including "My Irish Rose" and "When Irish Eyes are Smiling".

This piece, with both an original Kern limerick and a quote from one of his biggest hits, with reference to Victor Herbert and written for his publisher’s amanuensis, is altogether delightful and can be considered both historic and rare. Included is a copy of the 1950 edition of Huddie "Leadbelly" Ledbetter's famous song "Goodnight, Irene" featuring the image of Irene Gallagher on its cover with the caption: Dedicated to the One and Only Irene Gallagher.

Provenance: Irene Gallagher, the popular assistant of the New York music publisher Max Dreyfus. She knew and helped all the up-and-coming composers of the day, including Jerome Kern and Richard Rodgers, and even briefly dated the young George Gershwin before his catapult to fame. A 1950 Spencer Music edition of Huddie "Leadbelly" Ledbetter's famous interpretation of the song "Goodnight, Irene" features her image on its cover with the caption: Dedicated to the One and Only Irene Gallagher.