American Old Time Song Lyrics: 55 I'm A Gay Soubrette
Theater, Music-Hall, Nostalgic, Irish & Historic Old Songs, Volume 55
I'M A GAY SOUBRETTE.
Copyright, 1897, by Carleton, Cavanagh & Co.
Words and Music by Safford Waters.
On the poster's vaudeville, or the comic op'ra bill,
You can always find my name, whenever you will.
For I'm really quite the thing, I can dance and I can sing,
They cannot do without me; if you dare to doubt me,
You do not know about me, I'm such a gay sourbette.
Every manager, I know, wants to book me for his show,
And, of course, it's awkward when I must answer "no!"
Anything is sure to go, for the public love me so;
They really like me best if my songs are suggestive,
With streaks of dancing festive, I'm each a gay sourbette.
Chorus.
I'm a gay soubrette, you see, a darling, gay soubrette.
All the Johnnies are in love with me, the bald heads declare I'm a pet,
Though it cannot be denied that I'm a sad coquette;
Still, of course, that's only natural, because I am a gay soubrette.
Spoken-Some people think soubrettes are naughty-but such is not the case
-any one with half an eye can see, by looking at me, that I'm an innocent,
bashful little thing, with a modest, retiring disposition, and I can break any
one's face who says I'm not, so there now!-Repeat Chorus.
I'm devoted to my art, and I study on my part
Till I'm sure the critics cannot pull me apart;
For, of course, it is the trick to be natural and "chic,"
And so I nail my verses, for sure nothing worse is
Than slips when one rehearses, If she's a gay soubrette.
Ev'ry night I chance to play, some one sends me a bouquet,
Really, I can't stop him if he will be a jay.
And a little bid to dine, which, of course, implies the wine,
For glasses gaily clinking, when good friends are drinking.
Just suits the style of thinking of any gay soubrette.- Chorus.
Spoken (Usher presents bouquet with note attached)-[Sotto Voice.]Who'd you say? that young man over there? Oh! isn't he just too sweet (opens
note and reads it) [aloud] That's all right, Johnny, at the stage door, and say,
let's go to Del's, nothing I like better than a bottle and a cold bird. - Repeat
Chorus.