American Old Time Song Lyrics: 34 I May Be This I May Be That

Theater, Music-Hall, Nostalgic, Irish & Historic Old Songs, Volume 34

I MAY BE THIS, I MAY BE THAT
Copyright, 1891, by T. B. Harms & Co.
Words by Edgar Smith. Music by Gustave Kerker.

A maiden sly, I wink my eye at every nice young man.
And then when he winks back at me, I blush behind my fan-
If he's a noodle, with lota of boodle, I always catch him if I can;
But if he's cold, blase, or old, and proof against deceit,
I then, with grace, my skirts displace, and trip across the street;
For men, you know, are never alow to notice that an ankle's neat.
Perhaps you may think me a coquette and a flirt,
A giddy young thing, who's inclined to be pert.

Refrain.
I may be thia, I may be that, but I'm a very peculiar case.
I may be this, I may be that, still I'm a fav'rite in the race.

I'm so demure that I am sure you'd think me mamma's pet,
An angel child, so meek and mild, with wings not sprouted yet.
But I must own that I've been known to smoke a whole big cigarette
To church I go on Sunday, so, with my modest air,
But always try to keep an eye on what the ladies wear;
My rapid ways on other days I think are neither here nor there.
Perhaps you may call me a flirt and a cheat,
And other hard names not polite to repeat.-Refrain