American Old Time Song Lyrics: 45 Living Pictures

Theater, Music-Hall, Nostalgic, Irish & Historic Old Songs, Volume 45

LIVING PICTURES.
Copyright, 1894. by T. B. Harms & Co.
Words and Music by James Thornton.

On a warm summer's eve, I'd nothing to do,
So I thought I would stroll up Broadway;
Says I. "I will go into come music hall,
And there a quiet hour pass away."
I saw all the show, then started to go,
When an usher asked me for to wait.
I said, "I can't stay;" he answered," You jay,
The living pictures are great."

Chorus.
Oh the pictures that I went to see,
They have cost me lots of misery;
My wife is mad, of course, she's getting a divorce,
Just because I saw the living pictures.

The first one I saw was a group of young girls,
The scene "as a harem, they said;
I asked someone how much the picture would cost,
And the ladies around me all turned red.
The next represented Adam and Eve,
They were dressed up in fig-leaves, that's all,
I shouted, "Hooray!" but someone did say,
"Oh, throw him out of the hall."

Chorus.
Oh, the pictures that I went to see,
They still linger in my memory:
I've lost my good wife, Jane, I think I'll go insane,
Ever since I saw the living pictures.

When the show it was o'er, I stood at the stage-door,
A few of the pictures to see:
I invited just nine, with me out to dine,
They all said they would go with me.
They said I look'd sweet, and asked me to treat
To a bottle of frapped champagne:
When I spent all my cash, they fled like a flash,
And left me to sing this refrain:

Chorus.
Oh, the pictures that I went to see!
Married men, now take advice from me:
If you want to hold your wife, and lead a quiet life,
Never go to see the living pictures.