American Old Time Song Lyrics: 24 The Chestnut Broke My Heart

Theater, Music-Hall, Nostalgic, Irish & Historic Old Songs, Volume 24

The Chestnut Broke My Heart.
By Willie Wildwave.
Tune- "The Song that Reached my Heart."

I sat last night amid a throng of actors, oh, so grand,
And listened to the dizzy jokes they told in manner bland;
I listened to the chestnuts fall from each one in his way,
For some were rather ancient and did service many a day.
I heard again the plumber joke, also about the goat,
About the ancient Thomas cat, of his melodious throat;
But when they told the gag-that made the tear-drops start,
They told the joke of mother-in-law, the chestnut broke my heart.

Chorus.
Home, home, sweet, sweet home,
What is home without a mother-in-law?
The chestnut broke my heart.
I think I can never forget, the jokes were so hoary with age,
I think of the actors, I think or the gags, and my heart is filled
I read me all the almanacs for forty years or more [with rage;
And found the jokes told o'er again, time but added to the score.
Again I heard that rank cashiers to Canada had flown,
That Irishmen policemen were ere they left their native zone;
But when they told that ancient friend, I thought it very tart,
They told the joke of mother-in-law, the chestnut broke my heart.