American Old Time Song Lyrics: 38 Her Papa Was There

Theater, Music-Hall, Nostalgic, Irish & Historic Old Songs, Volume 38

HER PAPA WAS THERE.
Copyright. 1892, by Frank Tousey.
By Felix McGlennon. Arranged by Monroe H. Rosenfeld.

I went to see my best girl,
One lovely evening, one lovely evening.
My head was in a whirl,
As I approached her front door,
At the window she was sitting there.
And she looked so good, so pure and fair,
And she smiled on me, I bowed, that's all.
But I must admit that I did not call.

Chorus.
For her papa was there, her papa was there;
I saw his thin whiskers and bald head of hair;
He's a foot that can kick and a tongue that can swear,
So I didn't call, for her papa was there.

Her dad is awfully good,
Never goes giddy, never goes giddy;
Won't look at anything rude-
Well, that's what his family thinks,
But a giddy show I went to see.
Where the ladies' skirts just reached the knee.
Others danced in tights, some one said "Bravo";
Who was it? why, right in the very front row.

Chorus.
Her papa was there, her papa was there;
swore I would give him away, I declare,
But he promised he'd give me his daughter so rare,
So I didn't tell that her papa was there.

Her dad hates young men who spree,
Says that he never lakes a drink ever
That is stronger than tea-
Temperance leader is he:
Now I went one day upon a lark,
And I made things howl long after dark,
And I staggered by, tripped up and fell,
A policeman shoved me into a cell-

Chorus.
And her papa was there, her papa was there;
And purt of the floor with his sobs I did share;
It was ten dollars fine, and both fines he did square;
Oh! wasn't I glad that her papa was there.

I went once to the race-track.
To see the racers go through their paces.
With "toffs" both white and black,
Winners I never could lack,
So I bet upon a stunning mare.
For she couldn't lost, all did declare.
But she came in last, as I turned and saw
A face I well knew und oh, dear! oh, law-

Chorus.
Her papa was there, her papa was there;
He had on his face such a look of despair;
He was cleaned out and "busted" I heard him declare,
So I wasn't alone, for her papa was there.

I went to see my best girl
One lovely morning, one lovely morning,
Off to church we did whirl;

Quickly we two were made one:
Oh, the wedding breakfast was sublime,
And we had a good old, gay old time.
And we drunk and toasted "luck and wealth,"
Then some one got up And proposed our health-

Chorus.
And her papa was there, her papa was there;
He said good, young fellows like me were so rare;
He made them then think me a saint, I declare,
Oh! wasn't I glad that her papa was there.