A popular song from 1875
Words by Grace Carleton
Music by A. Carom
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by Denese Coulbeck:
Lyrics
- Of all the pleasant games we play
What game can equal this?
We “practise” it by night and day
Its joys we never miss
Where-e’re we go it is our lot
To hear this one refrain
“Come in and play” – the world has got
This Billiards on the brain
Chorus
The balls go rolling round the table
In this little game
It matters not which ball you hit
The count is all the same
We take our cues and chalk them up
And carom on the red
But very oft we make a scratch
And hit the white instead
- The game of life resembles it
We often make a “miss”
At other times we make a “hit”
And frequently we “kiss”
Some new beginner plays near by
He lifts his cue again
And gently pokes you in the eye
That’s billiards on the brain - Quite oft while looking at a friend
Who makes a splendid “run”
The game is drawing to an end
You think it splendid fun
When suddenly, before you know
You feel a twinge of pain
A ball comes bouncing on your toe
That’s billiards on the brain - Young Jones, he was a nice a man
As ever you did see
And when the game he once began
He counted splendidly
He played all night, and played all day
With all his might and main
Alas! he died! – the people say
Of billiards on the brain
Sung here by Laurence Rubenstein: