A popular song from 1920
Words and music by Howard Johnson, Harry Pease and Eddie Nelson
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:
Lyrics
- Percival Algy was a sweet little boy
Always dressed up like little Lord Fauntleroy
Early to bed and early to rise
Didn’t make Percival very wise
But after a month on Broadway
Here’s what her wrote home today
Chorus
“Oh! mother, you wouldn’t know your child
Oh! mother, I’m getting awfully wild
I am drinking Coca Cola now
Oh the level, I’m a little devil
Oh! mother, you wouldn’t want me home
Cannibals compared to me are mild
I’m no more your peaceful little lamb
I shave most every day just like a man
I’ve thrown away my nightie
And I wear a pink pajam’
Oh! Oh! mother I’m wild
- Percival went to see a musical show
He had a seat right in the very front row
Each girl began to shimmie and shake
Then Percy hollered out “Goodness sake
Oh, mother if you could just see
This is the life dear for me”
Chorus
“Oh! mother, you wouldn’t know your child
Oh! mother, I’m getting awfully wild
I am reading “Snappy Stories” now
Every minute I just go the limit
Oh! mother, you wouldn’t want me home
Cannibals compared to me are mild
One night I went to a cabaret
A lady danced and showed her lingerie
I bathed myself in “Dear Kiss”
Just to wash my sins away
Oh! Oh! mother I’m wild
Sung here by Laurence Rubenstein: