Lyrics below are from the sheet music at Baylor University. You can hear a recording at The Internet Archive in which Bert Williams sings verses and choruses 1 and 6.


HERE IT COMES AGAIN
Words by Alex Rogers and Earle C. Jones; music by Bert A. Williams. ©1906.
Sung by Bert Williams in "Abyssinia."

1. I b'lieve I'm 'bout to find myself back where I started from.
They say that money does all things; well, I've been handlin' some.
And yet I knew bad luck would come; it's plain as A, B, C.,
'Cause something's buzzing in my ear and whispering to me.

CHORUS 1: Here it comes again! (Plague take it!) Here it comes again!
But when that feeling comes a-stealing, it's no use to complain.
I thought that Jonah spell had passed, but I was figuring too fast.
My dream it was too good to last. (Dod bust it!) Here it comes again!

2. I had brain fever one time, and had fierce pains in my head,
And now I know exactly what Doc Smith meant when he said:
"If any time insanity should stare you in the face,
You'll feel an awful funny strange sensation taking place."

CHORUS 2: Here it comes again! (Oh, mercy!) Here it comes again!
But when that feeling comes a-stealing, it's no use to complain.
The doctor says it is a fact that I'm some kind of maniac.
My upper story it is cracked. (I feel it!) Here it comes again!

3. Last Tuesday night I gave up drink because I had to quit.
The purple snakes and crocodiles 'most had me in a fit.
I didn't mind the yellow rats for they were kind of tame.
The thing that threw the scare in me was just too bad to name.

CHORUS 3: Here it comes again! (Oh, hevvings!) Here it comes again!
I know it wants me 'cause it haunts me and drives me 'most insane.
It's got a pair of bloodshot eyes, a tail, and horns of awful size.
I guess it's Satan in disguise! (Oh, Mother!) Here it comes again!

4. One night I had a poker fit and had it mighty bad,
So I went to a game and took all of the coin I had.
I got four kings, which looked quite sweet, and then I bet my all.
A man shoved in his money, showed four aces, said: "I call."

CHORUS 4: There it was again! (Dog bite it!) There it was again!
I had a feeling of crooked dealing but how could I complain?
He was a crook, I do believe, but how could I renege or grieve?
He had a razor up his sleeve! (Gosh hang it!) There it was again!

5. I used to be a conductor on the Broadway trolley line.
I thought the "change" would do me good, and that's why I got mine.
A fat man used to ride with me who never had to pay.
He had a hundred-dollar bill, but I laid for him one day.

CHORUS 5: And there it was again! (That greenback!) It looked so nice and new.
I changed the money; it was funny; 'twas all in pennies, too.
I put those coppers in his mitt and laughed so hard I nearly split,
Then found the bill was counterfeit. (Dod rot it!) There it was again!

6. Ben Brown and I once met two girls who called him 'cross the street.
One had a face that looked just like a yard of sausage meat.
I said to him: "She surely has the limit face on her."
Just then he kicked me hard and said: "Why, that's my sister, sir!"

CHORUS 6: There it was again! (Gosh blame it!) There it was again!
He kicked me cruel like a mule and caused me lots of pain.
Says I: "You are mistaken, Ben; I meant that other homely hen."
"Why, that's my wife!" said he and then (imitates being kicked) there it was again!

7. Sometimes it seems that I was born to be a fatal card.
I allus been a "two spot" an' ma luck was mighty hard.
I've played a losin' game an' lost; de bet is up to me.
Ma hand goes in de discards with dese five good trumps you see. (holds up five fingers)

CHORUS 7: Here it comes again! (It's awful!) Here it comes again!
I'd like to stop it 'fore they chop it, but I doesn't mind the pain.
Someday a friend will try to take this good right hand for old time's sake,
And I won't have no hand to shake. (Oh, mercy!) Here it comes again!