American Old Time Song Lyrics: 08 Ten Minutes Too Late

Theater, Music-Hall, Nostalgic, Irish & Historic Old Songs, Volume 8

TEN MINUTES TOO LATE.

Certain fidgety folks, we have all of us met,
Who are famous for being " too soon,"
For a two o'clock dejeuner a la fourchette,
They are safe to turn up about noon.
Punctuality's all very proper I know,
But all hurry and worry I hate,
So it always occurs, wherever I go,
I'm exactly ten minutes too late!

Chorus.
Punctuality's all very proper I know,
But all hurry and worry I hate,
So it always occurs, that wherever I go,
I'm exactly ten minutes too late!

When I jump in a hansom, or climb in a bus,
To be nicely in time for a train,
I am half in a fever, and quite in a fuss,
Tho' I feel that my efforts are vain;
When I find myself safe in the station at last,
And believe it's five minutes to eight,
I observe with a sigh, that it's five minutes past,
So I'm only ten minutes too late!-Chorus.

I was once on a time very deeply in love,
And I courted in verse, and prose,
I obtained a big lock of her hair, and a glove,
So I made up my mind to propose;
But a cab drove away as I knock d at her door,
And her answer decided my fate,
For my rival had called there a little before,
So that I was ten minutes too late!- Chorus.

I should sing for a month, if I told in a song,
The misfortunes I have to endure,
From this habit that's haunted me all my life long,
And will haunt me till death, I am sure;
When my fitful career is approaching its end,
And I lie in a critical state,
It's no matter what physics my doctor may send.
I shall take them ten minutes too late!-Chorus.