A popular song from 1918.
Words by Sam Ehrlich.
Music by Nat Osborne.
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:
Lyrics
- Mister William Brown hadn’t been to town
And his sweetheart wondered why
For she longed to see a play
Or to dance ’round at a cabaret
She called him on the telephone
And said, “I hate to be alone”
So, Mister Brown came into town
And gave her this reply
Chorus
There’s a tax on sugar
And there’s a little tax on honey
Why they even tax your money
It seems so funny when they tax your honey
And your money, too
There’s a tax on letters
Soon there’ll be a tax on stars above
Broadway farmers will be out of place
‘Cause there’ll be no chickens there to chase
Goodbye forever
If they ever put a tax on love
- Mister William Brown has to stay in town
‘Cause he married her one night
He said the safest plan
Is to be a happy married man
So, after things had run their course
She sued him for a quick divorce
Now Mister Brown stays out of town
And writes her when he can
Chorus
There’s a tax on sugar
And there’s a little tax on honey
Why they even tax your money
It seems so funny when they tax your honey
And your money, too
There’s a tax on letters
Soon there’ll be a tax on stars above
All old maids who never had a chanced
Would grab on to anything in pants
Goodbye forever
If they ever put a tax on love
Sung here by Laurence Rubenstein: