A popular song from 1917.
Words by Howard Johnson and Harry Pease.
Music by Harry Jentes.
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:
Lyrics
- I just received an answer to a letter that I wrote
From a pal who marched away
He was wounded in the trenches somewhere in France
And I worried abut him night and day
“Are you getting well”, was what I wrote
This is what he answered in his note
Chorus
I don’t want to get well
I don’t want to get well
I’m in love with a beautiful nurse
Early ev’ry morning, night and noon
The cutest little girlie comes
And feeds me with a spoon
I don’t want to get well
I don’t want to get well
I’m glad they shot me on the fighting line, fine
The doctor says that I’m in bad condition
But Oh, Oh, Oh, I’ve got so much ambition
I don’t want to get well
I don’t want to get well
For I’m having a wonderful time
- I showed this letter to a friend
Who lives next door to me
And I heard him quickly say
“Goodbye, pal, I must be going
I’m off to war
And I hope that I’m wounded right away
If what’s in this letter here is true
I’ll get shot and then I’ll write to you”
Chorus
I don’t want to get well
I don’t want to get well
I’m in love with a beautiful nurse
Though the doctor’s treatments show results
I always get a bad relapse
Each time she feels my pulse
I don’t want to get well
I don’t want to get well
I’m glad they shot me on the fighting line, fine
She holds my hand and begs me not to leave her
Then all at once I get so full of fever
I don’t want to get well
I don’t want to get well
For I’m having a wonderful time
Sung here by Laurence Rubenstein: