If I Thought You Wouldn't Tell
- Verse 1
A maiden pretty, from Jersey City,
Paid a visit to some cousins out of town.
She answered "Mercy" when Cousin Percy
Said, "I'd dearly love to show you all around."
Like bees a-buzzin'
She and her cousin
Were together ev'ry minute of the day.
One night he kissed her, she shouted "Mister,"
But he answered in a cute and cunning way:
- Chorus
"If I thought you wouldn't tell your mother,
I would try and take one more.
Promise not to tell your father or your brother,
And I'll make it three or four.
If I thought that you could keep a secret,
I would keep you busy, Nell.
I'd forget that I'm your cousin
And I'd take half a dozen,
If I only thought you wouldn't tell."
- Verse 2
One evening early, he took the girlie
To a restaurant where drinks were often tried
He ordered porter, she ordered water,
Then she said, "I'll take a cocktail on the side."
She drank a dozen,
Just then her cousin
Whispered, "Dearie, don't you think we should go home?"
She answered, "Later, please call the waiter,"
Then she murmured in a rather husky tone:
- Chorus
"If I thought you wouldn't tell your mother,
I would try and take one more.
Promise not to tell your father or your brother,
And I'll make it three or four.
If I thought that you could keep a secret,
I would keep you busy, Nell.
I'd forget that I'm your cousin
I would take all they would sell."
This work is in the public domain in the United States because it was published before January 1, 1929.
The longest-living author of this work died in 1989, so this work is in the public domain in countries and areas where the copyright term is the author's life plus 34 years or less. This work may be in the public domain in countries and areas with longer native copyright terms that apply the rule of the shorter term to foreign works.
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