American Old Time Song Lyrics: 42 What Do I Care

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

WHAT DO I CARE.
Copyright, 1893, by Francis, Day & Hunter.
Words by Richard Morton. Music by F. W. Venton.

Oh, I'm a young lady, still going to school,
To do what I like and that is play the fool;
If they give me a dunce cap, stand me on a stool,
What do I care?
If teachers find out, when I should be in bed,
I'm sitting by candlelight, puzzling my head,
And am writing love letters, yards of them, instead-
What do I care?

Chorus.
What do I care? What do I care what the people say?
I'm always up to mischief and I'm at it all the day;
I'm playing marbles, pitch and toss, or sliding down the stairs;
Like all tomboys I find my joys, I like it, so who cares?

Next door to our school there is one for young men;
We meet them sometimes, it's forbidden, but when
They just catch me at walking with Jack now and then,
What do I care?
If one of the boys saucy language should speak,
I up with my fist and land one on his cheek;
If I get a black eye for the rest of the week,
What do I care?- Chorus.

At rounders I know that I cut quite a dash,
When they pitch the ball I am there like a flash;
If a pane of plate-glass goes to bits with a smash,
What do I care?
I know that my Dad for the damage I do
Will settle at once, though he looks a bit blue;
Broken French he will pay for, and broken glass, too-
What do I care?- Chorus.