American Old Time Song Lyrics: 34 Nothing Is Like It Used To Be

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

Nothing Is Like It Used to Be.
Copyright, 1891, by Hitchcock & McCargo Publishing Company
Words by Harry Smith. Music by Adam Itzel, Jr.

We sigh for the days, the good old days when we were such gay young sparks;
We had eyes that could win a girl at sight, oh, those were the days for larks.
We had pretty pearly teeth and had graceful shapely limbs;
We'd complexions like the rose, we were jolly young dogs, I vow;
We had voices then to sing And danced like agile fawns;
We'd no rheumatism then, but we're awfully different now.

Chorus.
Nothing is like it used to be, nothing is like it used to be;
Yes, everything's changed for the worse, that I must vow;
Nothing is like it used to be, nothing is like it used to be;
Things used to be right, but they're not so now.

Then the children went to bed at night, did as they were told to;
They never did a naughty thing, never spoke a word untrue.
No young girl received a beau till her mamma said she might,
But mamma staid down below, And was never out of sight;
Once a girl was coy and staid, she was pert and snappy, snippy:
Once we called her pretty maid, nowadays we call her "chippy. "-Chorus.

For an actress-star when we were young, toil and talent were required,
Now we only need that she should be rich And gorgeously attired.
Nowadays 'tis different quite, everything is now serene,
And an actress is all right if she is a social queen;
She must take the best of care her divorce-crop never fails.
Then she needs a dress from Worth's, and a nod from the Prince of Wales.- Cho.

When first Columbus reached this shore, beauteous was the land he found,
For nature then a garment wore fraught with majesty profound.
But nature is no longer free, to deadheads she no more consents;
Niagara Falls you cannot see unless you shell out fifty cents;
As up the Hudson you proceed, the scene sublime your bosom thrills,
Till on some massive rock you read: "Use Carters Little Liver Pills." -Cho.