American Old Time Song Lyrics: 53 The Poor Girl Didnt Know The Difference

Theater, Music-Hall, Nostalgic, Irish & Historic Old Songs, Volume 53

THE POOR GIRL DIDN'T KNOW THE DIFFERENCE.
Copyright, 1896, by Spaulding & Gray.
Words and Music by George M. Cohan.

A simple, gawkish maiden, in a little country town,
She thought she'd like the city and its ways,
So on one summer's morning, dressed in her swellest gown,
She left her home, departed from the jays,
She landed in the city, and walked along the street;
'Twas rather late-in fact, 'twas after nine;
She met a gent, who told her he thought her very sweet,
And then, of course, invited her to dine.

Chorus.
And the poor girl didn't know the difference,
She'd innocence imprinted on her brow.
No, she didn't think 'twas wrong, so, of course, she went along,
She knows the diff'rence now.

A girl named Mary Casey, who'd been married but a year,
Became the mother of a bouncing boy;
She loved the little darling, it really was a dear,
And soon became its parents' pride and joy;
One day she went out calling, And took the child to see
A friend, who had a little baby girl;
She got the two kids twisted, and when she went to leave,
She look the wrong one, she was in a whirl.

Chorus.
For the poor girl didn't know the difference,
The babies looked alike, I will allow,
But with grief she near went wild, when she went to bathe the child,
She knows the difference now.

Now during last vacation, why then pretty Mamie Brown,
She thought she'd like to spend the summer months
Away off in the country, in some nice quiet town;
She packed her trunk and started off at once;
She thought she'd go out milking, the sport would be so new,
When she had only been there 'bout a day,
And when she saw the brindles, she said, that's what I'll do,
Then got a pail and started right away.

Chorus.
But the poor girl didn't know the difference.
She started then and there to milk the cow,
But she made a sad mistake, for the cow's name It was Jake,
She knows the diff'rence now.