A 1914 popular song.
Words by Alfred Bryan.
Music by George W. Meyer.
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:
Lyrics
- Billy O’Higgins was feeling quite sad
His little sweetheart was treating him bad
His weekly earnings were fifteen dollars
That only paid for his shirts and collars
Each time he’d ask her to go to a show
All of her family wanted to go
She’d call a taxi, to take them all home
Then you would hear poor Billy moan
Chorus
The high cost of loving, the high cost of loving
It’s driving me mad, yes, driving me mad
The high cost of living is only a joke
The high cost of loving is keeping me broke
You borrow from mother, from sister and brother
You try to keep up with the style
Ev’ry brick-layer’s daughter, drinks wine just like water
I’ll have to stop loving a while
- Each night they’d linger around cabarets
She could spend money in ten different ways
After each drink, or a moment later
All of his change she would tip the waiter
When they played music his poor heart would sink
She’d treat the orchestra all to a drink
He would sit there and spend dime after dime
While all that she’d spend was her time
Chorus
The high cost of loving, the high cost of loving
It’s driving me mad, yes, driving me mad
The high cost of living is only a joke
The high cost of loving is keeping me broke
You eat nickle lunches, and buy her milk punches
You try to keep up with the style
Ev’ry Mary and Jane wants to bathe in champagne
So, I’ll have to stop loving a while
Sung here by Vancha March: