The ontogenesis of number

The ontogenesis of number

Herman Hupfeld, 1930

This day and age we're living in give cause for apprehension, 

With speed and new invention. 

And things like third dimension, 

Yet we get a trifle weary, with Mr. Einstein's theory, 

So we must get down to earth, 

At times relieve the tension.

No matter what the progress, or what may yet be proved. 

The simple facts of life are such they cannot be removed.

The fundamental things apply,

As time goes by. 

From The Anthropology of Numbers by Thomas Crump, 1990.  It the epigraph to the first chapter.  The first chapter is titled The Ontology of Number.  So much to unpack.

Herman Hupfeld did indeed write As Time Goes By.  But not under the title of The ontogenesis of number.  I think that was authorial humorous license on the part of Crump.  

But those opening eight lines are not in Hupfeld's song.  More Crump?

No.  As best I can tell, at some point an alternate version of As Time Goes By came into being which includes those first eight lines.  Hupfeld's song was written in 1931. 

Here is the classic rendition of As Time Goes By sung by Dooley Wilson in Casablanca.  Lyrics:

As Time Goes By

by Herman Hupfeld

You must remember this:

A kiss is still a kiss,

A sigh is just a sigh.

The fundamental things apply

As time goes by.

And when two lovers woo

They still say, "I love you."

On that you can rely,

No matter what the future brings.

As time goes by.

Moonlight and love songs: never out of date.

Hearts full of passion, jealousy and hate.

Woman needs man, and man must have his mate.

That no one can deny.

It's still the same old story.

A fight for love and glory.

A case of do-or-die.

The world will always welcome lovers

As time goes by.

But in 1975, Tony Bennet recorded a version with a different introductory stanza, the one quoted by Crump.  

As Time Goes By 

by Tony Bennett

This day and age we're living in

Gives cause for apprehension

With speed and new invention

And things like third dimension

Yet we get a trifle weary

With Mr Einstein's theory

So we must get down to earth

At times relax, relieve the tension

No matter what the progress

Or what may yet be proved

The simple facts of life are such

They cannot be removed

You must remember this

A kiss is still a kiss

A sigh is just a sigh

The fundamental things apply as time goes by

And when two lovers woo

They still say I love you

On that you can rely

No matter what the future brings, as time goes by

Moonlight and love songs never out of date

Hearts full of passion, jealousy, and hate

Woman needs man, and man must have his mate

That no one can deny

It's still the same old story

A fight for love and glory

A case of do or die

The world will always welcome lovers as time goes by

The world will always welcome lovers as time goes by

In googling to find what was going on, at no point have I found anything noting the two different versions and how, when, and by whom the change was made.  And then Crump complicated it all by lightheartedly interjecting his own title.  If The ontogenesis of number can be considered lighthearted.