American Old Time Song Lyrics: 38 Our Ruth Ann
Theater, Music-Hall, Nostalgic, Irish & Historic Old Songs, Volume 38
OUR RUTH ANN.
Copyright, 1892, by Francis, Day & Hunter.
Written and Composed by J. W. Hall.
Oh, dear, oh, dear, what shall I do? I'm nearly going mad,
My daughter's sure to be the death of me:
To treat me in this shameful way is really much too bad,
For I thought that such a credit she would be;
We fondly watched her day by day, myself and her mamma.
And of improvement each day saw some signÂShe's lost her situation, she's got too clever, far.
All through that dance they call the "Serpentine."
Chorus.
Our Ruth Ann, our Ruth Ann you'll see her dancing, oh, so fine.
That giddy craze, the Serpentine.
All day long she skips upon her toes;
They call her "Monkey brand" because she won't wash clothes.
As she seemed mad on dancing. I engaged a man to teach
The steps and turns and twirls right up to date;
She rapidly acquired them, sticking o them like a leech,]
And never at her lessons would be late.
At last, one day, her master introduced the latest craze.
The serpent dance, so very hard to do.
And from that hour, on nothing could we her thoughts engage;
She was at it till she wore out every shoe.-Chorus.
I knew that she was courting, and one day her masher came
To ask me if he could my daughter wed;
Of course I gave permission, said that he might change her name.
go off to church the silly couple fled.
He came the other morning, be wants as to take her back,
And said that he the honor must decline
Of living with a serpent with twirlies on the hair;
He'd be happier in the silvery serpentine.-Chorus.