American Old Time Song Lyrics: 42 Oh How I Wanted It

Theater, Music-Hall, Nostalgic, Irish & Historic Old Songs, Volume 42

OH! HOW I WANTED IT.
Copyright, 1894, by Henry J. Wehman.
Written and sung by Jas. McAvoy.

I remember when I was a child I had a craving way,
And the habit lingers with me still up to the present day;
As for anything I wanted, I would never pass it by,
And when I couldn't get it, how I used to howl and cry.
My pa he used to quiet me and box me on the ear,
And mother she would jolly me, and say it was too dear;
And then they'd chase me up to bed and tell me goto sleep,
Just because they could not buy it I would lie awake and weep.

Chorus.
Oh, how I wanted it, how I used to tease,
Oh, how I wanted it, something that I couldn't get;
Whate'er it was I'd cry for it, from morning until night,
In fact I always wanted everything that was in sight

I've got that craving feeling yet I've grown to be a man,
Still things I want and dying for to get I never can;
Now, at home I want to be the boss, my wife, she is, of course,
I am crazy for to quit her and I long for a divorce;
She's sued me for desertion, also for non-support,
And twice a week she has me pinched and up before the courts;
A legal separation, now, the Judge he will not grant,
I confess I love another, but to marry her I can't

Chorus.
But, oh, how I wanted it just to come my way,
Oh, how I wanted it just to give me chance to get;
To-night I am only out on bail, the Judge is on to me,
And to-day he said he knew I wanted everything I see.

To-day I saw a pretty girl, and dressed way out of sight
She wrote a note and said that she'd be out in front to-night;
And everything she ate and drunk I paid for like a man,
And thirty cents in change is all I've got left out of a ten.
The way I blew my ten she must have thought that I had stuff,
It broke my heart to blow myself, but still I made the bluff;
That little ten I saved a week, I am now a tenner short,
And what a sucker play I made, trying to be a sport.

Chorus.
But, oh, how I wanted it, I've only thirty cents,
Oh, how I blew it in upon the girl I tried to win;
I guess she razzle-dazzled me, but oh, she was a peach,
That's what I get for grabbing everything that's in my reach.