American Old Time Song Lyrics: 06 Mother Keeps The Grate Locked Now

Theater, Music-Hall, Nostalgic, Irish & Historic Old Songs, Volume 6

Mother Keeps the Grate Locked Now.
Copyright, 1883, by W. A. Evans & Bro.

I know a lovely girl, her name is Katie Lee,
She's charming as can be, she's all the world to me.
But now we are apart, to see her I'm denied.
While all day I sigh to clasp her by my side;
Each night we used to meet down by the garden gate,
And happy then the hours would fly away,
But now when round the house I fondly watch and wait,
I sadly hear my little Katie say:

Chorus.
For mother keeps the gate locked now;
To see you, dear, I don't know how;
I must stay in the house as quiet as a mouse,
For mother keeps the gate locked now.

We used to meet each night, it was a happy spell;
The moon was shining bright, while tales of love I'd tell;
But Katie oft would sigh, "Oh, what would mother say;
She thinks I'm at the gate, and I'm so far away,
One night when we returned from a delightful stroll,
Her mother's rage I could not pacify;
I quickly went away, but Katie wrote to say:
That she would come and meet me on the sly.-Chorus.

Now Katie stays at home and I am in distress;
I wander alone without my happiness;
I try the gate, but there's a dog within,
That growls at me And barks, and makes an awful din.
Poor Katie mopes all day, oh, cruel parents they,
To treat my little girl so shamefully,
We'll run away some night, get married ere daylight,
And then no more will Katie say to me:- Chorus.