The Story Book Ball

A popular song from the year 1917.
Words and music by Billie Montgomery and George Perry.


The sheet music:


Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:


Lyrics

  1. In Mother Goose’s book up in the nurs’ry
    Poor Simple Simon said, “I’m feeling sad”
    Said Peter Piper’s daughter, “So am I and think we oughter
    Try to think of something that will make us glad
    So “Smarty Smarty” said “I’ll give a party”
    And they called on the old woman in the shoe
    The cat she brought her fiddle
    And she played “High Diddle Diddle”
    And what happened then I’m goin’ to tell to you

Chorus
“Little Jackey Horner,” eating pie up in the corner
Stuck in his thumb, pulled out a plum
“Little Missie Muffet” she was sitting on a Tuffett
And she said Yum Yum, please give me some
“Little Georgie Porgie,” with his pudding and pie
Kissed “Mary quite contrary ’till he made her cry
And little Bo-Peep, she lost her sheep
And couldn’t find ’em: their tails behind ’em
“Peter Peter Pumpkin Eater”
Had a wife and couldn’t keep her at the ball
In the hall Humpty Dumpty met her
Said I’ll bet her that I’ll get her
And I’ll make her fall, that’s not all
Old King Cole, that merry old soul
He fell for “Mother Hubbard” blew his big bank roll
Buying Lollypops and pretties
For the kiddies at the Story Book Ball

  1. They danced and sang ’till early in the morning
    They really didn’t know just when to stop
    So, as the day was dawning
    And the kiddies all were yawning
    They found out the mouse had run up in the clock
    Then Jack be nimble, Jack be quick, he started
    And right over that big candlestick he flew
    Then “Little Tommy Tucker”, started singing for his supper
    And then “Poor Boy Blue,” said “Gee, I’m hungry, too”

Chorus
“Peter Piper” picked a peck of pickling peppers
Brought ’em, to the hall, and that’s no stall
“Tommy Tom the Piper’s Son”
He stole a pig and away he run to the ball
Ah! that’s not all
“Polly put the kettle on” the tea got cold
They had to eat the Porridge that was nine days old
Then Jack fell down, Jill broke her crown
And spilled the water: she hadn’t oughter
Four and twenty Black birds were baking in a pie
And they refused to sing any thing
Wasn’t that an awful way for little birds
To act before a Queen and King
Such a thing said the Knave and the King
To the “Queen of Hearts”
Come on, hurry up Honey bring some tarts
So she did and the kids had a picnic
At the Story Book Ball


Sung here by Vancha March: