La Paloma

(The dove)
A Spanish song from 1864
Spanish words by anonymous
English words by Henry G. Chapman
Music by Sebastian Yradier


The sheet music:


Accompaniment – player piano roll
US Music Co #1925, scanned by Terry Smythe


Lyrics

  1. The day that I left Habana
    (The Lord be praised)
    Not one came to see me off
    Except myself
    And one pretty Mexicana
    But what cared we?
    Who came, well in fact just came
    Along with me

Chorus
If to thy window ever shall come a wee dove
Treat it with kindness
For thou wilt find ’tis me, love
Tell it thy love, ah!
Tell it thy love for me, dear
Crown it with flowers
Because it has come to thee, dear
Do, my darling, I pray
Thou must give me they love, ah!
So come with me, come with me
Darling, come with me where I dwell
Do, my darling, I pray
Thou must give me thy love, ah!
So come with me, come with me
Darling, come with me where I dwell

  1. But now we shall soon be married
    (The Lord be praised)
    One week it will soon be gone
    I laugh for joy
    And when at the church we’ve tarried
    The knot to tie
    We’ll look for a place to sleep
    (And what care I!)
  2. And then, when the good priest’s blessing
    Has been bestowed
    In church or the big cathedral
    (And what care I?)
    My hand will I give thee
    Darling, with love untold
    The priest shall have twice his pay
    (Yes Sir, in gold)
  3. Some day, as the years roll onward
    (The Lord be praised)
    When we have been married lone
    (That’s what I mean)
    We then shall at least have seven
    (What ecstasy!)
    Fifteen little Mexicanas
    (But what care we?)