1) Lyrics:
Down by the seashore two children were at play,
Cutting names and figures for the waves to wash away.
When the girl he name had writt'n the boy so full of fun,
Just drew his stick across it and started on a run.
The girl look'd angrily at him, her eyes were flashing too,
As she sang out in wild accents: “I'll tell Papa on you!”
chorus:
I'll tell Papa on you mean boy, if you treat me so;
You are very cross to me, Why? I do not know.
If you lov'd me as you ought I would love you too.
But if you treat me so again, I'll tell Papa on you!
Years and months have fled when they come back once more
To pleasant scenes of childhood and they walk along the shore.
Suddenly he look'd at her, and then he laughed outright.
As he remember'd all then, plays and the childish fight
And then he said: I love you dear, and all my heart is true,
As when you said in days of old “I'll tell Papa on you!”
(chorus)
Oh, how kind of you, to call me out once more
Applauding my little song of those two on the shore.
If you want to learn some more, as how their fortune run:
They became a couple, I read it in the “Sun”
And do not tease me anymore, I tell you this will do:
So now beware or else you'll find “I'll tell Papa on you!”
chorus:
I shall tell Papa on you, that you treat me so;
You are very cross to me, Why? I do not know.
That you liked my little song is what I like too.
But that you treat me, oh, so well: I'll tell Papa on you!
Margaret B. Keeler
2) Lyrics:
Maiden Ruth one day came into town,
Just to see her uncle dear,
Maiden Ruth had on a stylish gown,
And it made her look so queer;
Maiden Ruth had never seen New York,
Not until that day poor thing,
As her uncle took her all around,
She began to sing,
chorus:
“Oh, Uncle John,
Isn't it nice in on Broadway?
Oh, Uncle John,
Here I will remain,
Oh, Uncle John,
Now that I've seen the Bow'ry,
Life in the country's awful slow,
And I'll never go back again!”
Uncle John escorted maiden Rith,
All around the town with care,
First he took her up to Central Park,
There they went to Chatham Square,
Strange sights maiden Ruth had witnessed from,
Harlem down to New York bay,
Ev'ry one could tell what pleas'd her most,
By the way she'd say,
Uncle somehow lost her in the crowd,
Up and down the street he ran,
Soon he found her happy as could be,
Chatting with a policeman,
Uncle John then said to maiden Ruth,
“Come along.” but Ruth replied,
“I must kiss that handsome man in blue,”
So she did, and cried,