My wife won’t let me, 1906.
words by Fred W. Leigh
music by Henry E. Pether
This song has a sequel, “I’ve Told His Missus All About Him.”
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:
Lyrics
- I’m in a nice bit of trouble, I confess
Somebody with me has had a game
I should by now be a proud and happy bride
But I’ve still got to keep my single name
I was proposed to by Obadiah Binks
In a very gentlemanly way
Lent him all my money so that he could buy the home
And punctually at twelve o’clock today
Chorus
There was I, waiting at the church
Waiting at the church, waiting at the church
When I found he’d left me in the lurch
Lor, how it did upset me
All at once he sent me round a note
Here’s the very note, this is what he wrote
“Can’t get away to marry you today
My wife won’t let me”
- Lor, what a fuss Obadiah made of me
When he used to take me in the park
He used to squeeze me till I was black and blue
When he kissed me he used to leave a mark
Each time he met me he treated me to wine
Took me now and then to see the play
Understand me rightly, when I say he treated me
It wasn’t him but me that used to pay - Just think of how disappointed I must feel
I’ll be going crazy very soon
I’ve lost my husband, the one I never had
And I dreamed so about the honeymoon
I’m looking out for another Obadiah
I’ve already bought the wedding ring
There’s all my little fal-the-fiddles packed up in my box
Yes, absolutely two of everything
Sung here by Fred Feild: