American Old Time Song Lyrics: 08 The Musical Wife

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

THE MUSICAL WIFE.

How I wish that my wife would not practice all day,
My head is ready to split,
It snows, so I can't get out of her way,
But at home all the morning must sit.
How little I thought, when I first heard her sing,
And hung o'er her harp with delight.
The sorrows a musical partner might bring,
Who would practice from morning till night.
Oh! beware, ye young men, of a musical wife,
For Eliza's fine voice is the plague of my life!

"Eliza, my love, I've a letter to write,
Pray, cease for a moment, my dear."
' Good heavens!" she cries, ' you forget that to-night,
Ned Seguin and Frazer'll be here-
Anguera has promis'd to bring his guitar,
Rametti will play on the flute,
So I'm trying a second to ' Young Lochinvar,'
Which Miss Stone will perform on the lute!"
Oh! beware, young men. of a musical wife,
For Eliza's fine voice is the plague of my life!

Last week, in the Senate, on Tuesday's debate,
We never divided till three,
When, tir'd and exhausted. I hurried home late,
How I long'd for a cup of green tea;
But. alas, neither tea nor repose could I get,
For Keyser And Lange were there,
And my wife was performing a fav'rite quartette,
So I went to the club in despair.
Oh! beware, young men, of a musical wife,
For Eliza's fine voice is the plague of my life!

An office was vacant-the postmaster gave
The place to my brother through me,
I was out-so the messenger carried his note
To Eliza-while singing a glee.
But, surrounded, alas! by her musical choir,
My wife could not think of my brother;
So the luckless appointment was toss'd in the fine,
And the offie-was given to another.
Oh! beware, young men, of a musical wife,
For Eliza's fine voice is the plague of my life!

Yet they tell me, alas! that I ought to be blest,
In a wife with so perfect an ear-
Deaf husbands!-oh, knew ye the blessings of rest,
Ye ne'er would be so anxious to hear!
I, alas! have discover'd my folly too late-
Take warning by me while you can-
When you hear a fine voice-oh! remember my fate!
I'm a wretched-unfortunate man!
Oh! beware, young men, of a musical wife,
For Eliza's fine voice is the plague of my life!