American Old Time Song Lyrics: 35 A Pity To Waste It

Theater, Music-Hall, Nostalgic, Irish & Historic Old Songs, Volume 35

A PITY TO WASTE IT.
Written and Composed by Felix McGlennon.

To rest aright I went one day into a restaurant.
Said I, "I'd like a cup of tea-I want it nice and strong;
I'd also like a new laid egg." They brought it in a jiffy.
But when I sampled that 'ere egg, oh, crikey! it was sniffy.

Chorus.
'Twas a pity to waste it, a pity to waste it;
I thought that some one else ought to taste it;
The waiter then I saw, and he got it on the jaw;
So I didn't waste it, after all.

I've got a little garden, and in it I often dig;
I've dug up curiosities-some small, some rather big.
When digging there one day, I found-this story may sound strong-
But, straight, I found a pair of boots exactly two yards long.

Chorus.
'Twas a pity to waste them, a pity to waste them,
And so with some one else I have placed them.
They now adorn the feel of the policeman on our beat,
So I didn't waste them, after all.

Now, I am fond of babies, as the most of fellows are,
And if I could afford it, to them all I'd be a pa;
But I have plenty of my own, so I did not thrill with joy,
When on my doorstep yesterday I found a baby boy.

Chorus.
'Twas a pity to waste it, a pity to waste it,
And so with some one else I have placed it.
I sent that babe this morn to the Marquis all for Lorne,
So I didn't waste it, after all.

Some people who admire me, and my talents recognize,
Send me a present now and then, just for a sweet surprise.
Some fellow wrote, "Dear sir, I heard you sing a song last night,
I think you're worthy of a rise-here's a lump of dynamite."

Chorus.
'Twas a pity to waste it, a pity to waste it;
I thought some one else ought to taste it.
I met a German band, blew them to their native land;
So I didn't waste it, after all.

I'm very, very fond of dogs-I had a black-and-tan,
His fav'rite game was chasing cats, but after one he ran.
That cat was nasty-tempered, and he settled poor old Guzzle,
And all I've got to comfort me is my poor doggie's muzzle.

Chorus.
Twas a pity to waste it, a pity to waste it,
I thought that some one else ought to taste it.
My main-law I saw, and I clapped it on her jaw;
So I didn't waste it, after all.

It's singular the curious people that you often meet;
It's singular the curious things you pick up in the street.
I saw a parcel t'other day, the paper had come undone,
I picked it up, and found it was a map of good, old London.

Chorus.
'Twas a pity to waste it, a pity to waste it,
And so with some else I have placed it.
I sent it to our Queen; it's a place she's seldom seen;

So I didn't waste it, after all.