American Old Time Song Lyrics: 08 The Electric Light

Theater, Music-Hall, Nostalgic, Irish & Historic Old Songs, Volume 8

THE ELECTRIC LIGHT.
Copyright, 1879, by E. A. Harding.
Sung by Tony Pastor.

The time is coming when no one
Can tell the day from night,
And that will be when we shall see
The new electric light.
Then gas will have to vanish,
As all gassy subjects should,
And the " Yaukee triumph" it will shine
Upon the bad And good;
The bold policeman on his beat
Can never go to sleep,
While all our ball-room beauties,
Who now look so nice at night,
Will not seem quite so charming
By the new electric light.

Chorus.
There's some of us will welcome,
And some will hate the sight
Of the latest, greatest wonder,
That's the new electric light.

The light will show our loving wives
If husbands come home "straight;"
And all the " spooney" pairs at night
A kissing at the gate;
'Twill show the rich man just the way
To help the starving poor,
And the way to keep the prowling wolf
From honest labor's door!
'Twill show the road to "good old times,"
Now specie payment's here,
And how long Murphy's converts
Will abstain from gin and beer!
'Twill show us how our sweethearts
Keep their curls so long and bright.
We'll see what makes their blushes,
By the new electric light.-Chorus,

This light will show us how to get
The cash from broken banks,
And why them bold directors
Are allowed to play such pranks;
'Twill show us why policemen
Club the helpless And the old,
When the banks are robbed in broad daylight.
By burglars stout and bold!
'Twill help a girl to ferret out
What tints her sweetheart's nose.
And why her dashing neighbors
Wear such fine expensive clothes;
'Twill show us if those "cyphers"
That we read of were all right;
We'll find our honest statesmen
By the new electric light.-Chorus.

This light will show the honest man
Beneath a ragged coat-
And why our "Little Johnny"
Wouldn't let the people vote.
'Twill guide the Reverend Talmage
On some other vice to speak,
And will show him clearly, some are "frauds,"
Who hear him twice a week.
'Twill show who writes the personals.
And what they all may mean,
And why the girls with "navy busts,"
When dressed so stout, are seen;
Why someone found a baby
Ou his door-step one fine night,
Will soon look quite appareut
By the new electric light. - Chorus.