A popular song from 1907.
words by Gus Kahn
music by Grace LeBoy
requested by Tommy Nevils
From the book “America’s Songs II” written by Michael Lasser: “Kahn and LeBoy had met and begun to work together in 1907, when he was an unknown lyricist and she a young woman who was eager to write songs. She became his first collaborator and the co-writer of their first hit, “I Wish I Had a Girl.” In 1915 Gus Kahn and Grace LeBoy married.
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:
Lyrics
- These days every fellow has a sweetheart
Seems that every girlie has a beau
Gee, I’d be glad if I only had
Someone to tell me, “I love you so”
I’d like to do some kissin’ and some huggin’
Some croonin’ and some spoonin’, too, I guess
But no matter how I strive, folks don’t know that I’m alive
And I fear I’m goin’ to die of lonesomeness
Chorus
Gee, I wish that I had a girl
Like the other fellows had
Someone to make a fuss over me
To cheer me up when I feel sad
On Wednesday night I’m all alone
When I ought to be up at some sweetheart’s home
And “I’m lonesome, awful lonesome”
Gee, I wish I had a girl
- There are times when I get fairly started
With some girlie who looks good to me
But I can’t win ’cause someone butts in
And then it looks like they meant twenty-three
It seems that I just can’t get up a system
My sighin’ and my tryin’s all in vain
Cruel fate spoils every plan, ’cause I’m not a ladies man
And a lonely creature I’ll always remain
Sung here by Fred Feild: