American Old Time Song Lyrics: 13 Why Didnt You Say So Before

Theater, Music-Hall, Nostalgic, Irish & Historic Old Songs, Volume 13

Why Didn't You Say So Before?

New by-words, you know, now-a-days are the rage,
You'll hear them from every tongue;
Wherever you go you'll find that it s so,
The little, the big, old and young.
Even the ladies are fond of the slang,
While the boys in the street loudly roar;
Oh, how they do shout, the latest one out,
Why didn't you say so before?

One day, driven mad with a toothache so bad,
I rushed to the first doctor's shop;
When the grinder he eyed, and the tongs he applied,
And he pulled me six times round the shop.
Said I, when he'd done, you've pulled out the wrong one,
While with agony loud I did roar;
Now it's done, sir, says he, the fault don't lay with me,
Why didn't you say so before?

I once asked a friend me ten dollars to lend,
And said, I'd return it next day;
When he did begin at once to rub his chin,
And these words unto me he did say:
Old boy, it's too bad, I should have been glad,
In fact, I'd have let you have more
Had you called yesterday, now it's all paid away,
Why didn't you say so before?

My wife yesterday sat crying away,
Because our first-born was a boy;
All day she would sigh and keep rubbing her eyes.
Instead of being happy with joy.
Says she to me, Joe, I hate boys, you know,
I'd sooner of girls have a score;
Says I, (with a leer,) it's too late now, my dear,
Why didn't you say so before?