I heard Van Ronk's version on the radio today, and I thought the lyrics were clever, so I looked it up, and this seems to be the origin. I SEE BY THE PAPERS Written by Don George, Paul Reif & Virgil Johnson, ©1950. As sung by Nat King Cole on "The Complete Capitol Recordings of the Nat King Cole Trio" I see by the papers how the quintuplets grew, How a duckbill platypus was given to the zoo, But I don't see a thing about my baby comin' home. I see by the papers Superman saved the day, Li'l Abner's still the only boy for Daisy Mae, But I don't see a thing about my baby comin' home. I look in the personal column, Read the timetables each day. I've got it bad. Think I'll buy an ad: "Help wanted right away." I see by the papers there's a whole lot o' news, But there's none to cancel my subscription to the blues, 'Cause I don't see a thing about my baby comin' home. [There is at least one other song called I SEE BY THE PAPERS, written by Al Hoffman, Al Goodhart & Ned Washington, ©1932.]
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