A popular song from 1912
Words and music by Irving Berlin
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:
Lyrics
- There are many married men who lead a double life
One they lead in cabarets, the other with their wife
Staying out till four, while wifey goes to bed at ten
Looks well on the surface, but just listen, married men
Chorus:
Don’t leave your wife alone
Waiting for you at home
When you go out nights, I’ll tell you what
Maybe she’s waiting home and maybe she’s not
While you’re with Flo or May
Hunting a new Cafe
She may go out with a feller
And not drink sarsparilla
So, don’t leave your wife alone
- What is good for Mister Gander’s good for Mrs. Goose
Wives can go as fast as husbands once you let them loose
Wives can paint the town
And make their husbands look like skates
They’ve got paint enough to paint the whole United States
Chorus:
Don’t leave your wife alone
Waiting for you at home
When you go out nights, I’ll tell you what
Maybe she’s waiting home and maybe she’s not
When you go out and chase
After a pretty face
She may go and do some chasin’
With some wise brother mason
So, don’t leave your wife alone
Sung here by Laurence Rubenstein: