A popular song from 1914
Words by L. Wolfe Gilbert
Music by Lewis F. Muir
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:
Lyrics
- Tell me, tell me, sweetheart
What can I buy for you?
If I only knew, what would please you
Then she tells him she would sacrifice all the rest
Only one thing I’d like best
I’ll be so grateful to you
There’ll be some others glad, too
Chorus
Buy a bale of cotton, buy a bale of cotton
If you want to make me happy
Keep your diamond rings, other fancy things
I hear the South a-calling me
Trinkets are lovely for a girlie like me
I hate to lose those presents, so
But please hear my plea
I must murmur nixie, just to save old Dixie
Buy a bale of cotton for me
- Tell me, honey, tell me, honey
What it’s about?
Like to find out, what’s it about
Seems so funny, seems so funny
What are these tales
Everyone buys cotton bales
Sweetheart the bargain is sealed
I’ll buy a whole cotton field
Sung here by Laurence Rubenstein: