American Old Time Song Lyrics: 33 Jimmy Riddle

Theater, Music-Hall, Nostalgic, Irish & Historic Old Songs, Volume 33

JIMMY RIDDLE.

Now, I'll tell you, if I can, of a pretty girl called Nan,
Who stole the young affections of this individual.
I never knew no love, but I know it now, by jove!
And I sorrow through the treatment of a false young gal.
She was a perfect Venue; and, had nothing come between us,
We might have been as happy as a great big turtle-dove.
But a man, named Jimmy Riddle, what played upon the fiddle,
he managed for to swindle me out of my true love.

At a bakery, down in Grand, you will please to understand,
I first beheld my Nancy, who behind the counter stood.
She looked so neat and nice, while serving out her pies
To the many hungry customers-the sight would do you good.
Rather hungry I did feel, so I thought a little eel
Would gain a smile from Nancy, if not beneficial prove.
But, oh! that Jimmy Riddle, the man that played the fiddle,
I knew that he would swindle me of my true love.

Now, I told my love to Nan, like an honest, good young man-
She smiled and wiped her nose, and said that I was very kind.
And if I would but stay till her twenty-first birthday,
She'd think the matter over and let me know her mind.
The fiddler used to frown so, I thought I'd done him brown.
To gain a smile from Nancy-what happiness, by jove!
But, oh! that Jimmy Riddle, what played upon the fiddle,
he managed for to swindle me of my true love.

Now her birthday drawing near, thinks I, I'll go and see her.
So in I goes, quite full of hope, into her little shop;
But, judge of my surprise, there was another girl serving pies-
My head began to spin around, and I thought that I should drop.
Think- I, I'll know the worst, my brain it almost burst,
I asked for Nan-the young woman my worst of tears did prove.
Spoken-Why, haven't you heard the news! Why, we got the laugh at you,
And I discovered that
She'd married Jimmy Riddle, the man that played the fiddle­he managed for to swindle me of my true love.

Now, I doesn't mean to fret, though I never yet have met
A girl half like my Nancy, so loving and so nice.
And as to Riddle, he, if my will should be,
Compelled to live on nothing else but little pies;
And if his days they were not short, they're better than I thought.
So, farewell! darling Nancy, though faithless you did prove.
Bad luck to Jimmy Riddle-I'd like to smash his fiddle,
for he managed to swindle me of my true love.