Early To Bed and Early To Rise

… never made anyone wise
A 1920 comedy song.
Words by Alex Gerber.
Music by Abner Silver.

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The sheet music:

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Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:

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Lyrics

1. You all remember that proverb of old
   Time and again you’ve heard it told
   That early to bed and early to rise
   Will make you wealthy, healthy and wise
   I thought I’d try it to see if it works
   And I stopped toaming about
   I went to sleep at ten, six found me up again
   But it’s all wrong I found out

Refrain
Early to bed and early to rise
Will make you strong,
But won’t make you wise
Early each night, out goes the light
Then while you’re nappin’
You miss things that happen
You realize an owl is wise
At night is when he opens up his eyes
Take your milkman, he gets up at five
Still he looks more dead than alive
Cause early to bed and early to rise
Never made anyone wise

2. Doctors will tell you that sleeping is great
   But they themselves will stay up late
   The prophets of old were all very wise
   Still they learned from the stars and the skies
   Take your inventors, the men with ideas
   Notice the hours they keep
   They study and they toil, burn up the midnight oil
   While all the world is asleep

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Sung here by Laurence Rubenstein: