Post #4467843

Different performers often make changes to a song. In the Tin Pan Alley days it was very common to only sing the chorus, so many of my songsheets are effectively restoring a part of the song that may be unfamiliar. In this case I can completely understand why part of the song (the second chorus in this case) was generally dropped, as it takes an unwelcome turn from good-natured fun and implied ribaldry to misogyny and domestic violence. Definitely not what I was expecting. I've decided to reproduce the complete lyrics here as they were presented in 1925, but I would seriously suggest making your own decision as to how to perform the song, as I don't think that last chorus can really be justified. The simplest option is simply to use the first chorus again; the change is only a couple of lines. This performance by George Olsen and his Music, which is how I first heard the song, shortens the piece and replaces the casual violence with a musical joke: https://youtu.be/s_i0K9p5eeo Here's a player piano version with the full tune and lyrics: https://youtu.be/USn4-12Uqz8 The sheet music contains the following note: "The best effect is obtained by speaking the verse in the manner of a serious recitation" #Ukulele #1920s #Music