American Old Time Song Lyrics: 40 How Can A Girl Say No

Theater, Music-Hall, Nostalgic, Irish & Historic Old Songs, Volume 40

HOW CAN A GIRL SAY NO?
Copyright, 1893, by Frank Harding.
Written and Composed by Harry Dacre.
Arranged by G. M. Rosenberg.

Suppose a little baby girl has just arrived on earth,
As pretty as a little mellow peach,
Suppose she hasn't any teeth, und in the usual way
It cannot walk nor use the pow'r of speech;
Suppose her papa wants his way, as papas sometimes do,
And vows he'll have her christened "Bridget Jane,"
Or worse than that, suppose he calls it "Daisy, Rosey, Pink" -
The child is speechless, so she can't complain.

Chorus.
How can a girl say "no?" What can she do?
She is the weaker vessel, that's quite true;
Against the pow'r of men women can't combat,
How can she help it in a case like that?

Suppose she reaches womanhood and has a pretty face.
The men are sure to follow her about.
They'll whisper tender flatteries into her pretty ears,
And dance attendance when they catch her out;
Her graceful figure charms the heart, of some great, wealthy swell,
He treats her to all sorts of costly things;
It is a great temptation, but what can a poor girl do
When she is introduced to diamond rings?

Chorus.
How can a girl say "no?" What con she do?
She Is the weaker vessel, that is true;
Against the diamond ring women can't combat.
How can she help it in a case like that?

He writes her letters full of love and promises to wed,
And if he's got a title to his name
The girl says "yes" -you bet she does, and seeing she la poor
You cannot say that girl is much to blame.
He breaks his word and tells her that, his love was but a joke,
he only promised marriage just for spoil:
The girl goes to her lawyer with his letters in her hand.
The lawyer says, "Just put his nibs in court."

Chorus.
How can a girl say "no, "What does she do?
Claims fifteen thousand dollars, gets there, too.
Against the breach of prom---women can't combat,
Odds on the ladies in a case like that?