American Old Time Song Lyrics: 30 The Old Bowery Pit
Theater, Music-Hall, Nostalgic, Irish & Historic Old Songs, Volume 30
THE OLD BOWERY PIT.
Words by Ed. Harrigan. Music by Dave Braham.
As sung by Harrigan & Hart in "Mordecai Lyons."
Oh, I'm an old-timer, I date away back,
I've hollered and shouted, I'm fit
To get a front seat and my peanuts to eat,
When a boy in the Old Bow'ry pit.
Chorus.
In the old palmy days we had red-hot plays,
Along with my daddy I'd sit,
We'd laugh and we'd gag, and shout "H'ist up the rag!"
When a boy in the Old Bowery pit.
Now Cook played a sailor one Saturday night,
He shiver'd his timbers of oak;
You talk about blood, it was thicker than mud.
Oh, you could not see action for smoke.-Chorus.
We had our favorites, and we stood by them, too;
No failure, we'd make them a hit;
Tis then we'd all screech, "Say, come give us a speech,
To the boys in the Old Bow'ry pit." - Chorus.
There's no use of grieving, the stage has gone wrong
Since the old-timers passed out and quit;
Oh, then we'd have "Hamlet," "Ben Bolt," with a song,
Would the boys in the Old Bow'ry pit.-Chorus.
Oh, I have seen Forrest, Macready and Keen,
The bosses, now don't you forgit;
When they'd walk on the stage, we would stand up and scream.
Would the boys in the Old Bow'ry pit.-Chorus.
Oh. most all the good ones lay under the clay,
Farewell to their talent and wit;
The old stock's played out, oh, it don't live to-day,
No more does the Old Bow'ry pit.-Chorus.