The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #8372 Message #2968571
Posted By: Jim Dixon
19-Aug-10 - 09:05 AM
Thread Name: Lyr Req: Bridget O'Flynn (Where've Ya Been?)
Subject: Lyr Add: BRIDGET O'FLYNN (Happiness Boys)
You can hear this recording at The Internet Archive. The voices of Mother and Bridget are sung or spoken in falsetto. Here's my transcription:
BRIDGET O'FLYNN As sung by Billy Jones and Ernest Hare (The Happiness Boys) on Columbia # 875-D, recorded January 27, 1927.
SOUND of a cuckoo clock striking three. SPOKEN: MOTHER: Mike, Mike, what time was that? FATHER: Three o'clock. MOTHER: Three o'clock in the mornin' and you're still waitin' up? FATHER: Well, if I'm not in bed, I'm still waitin' up, ain't I? MOTHER: I suppose so. FATHER: You suppose so? You know so! And what's more, I'm goin' to keep waitin' up till that daughter of ours comes home. MOTHER: Do you think your sittin' there like an old fool will make her get in any quicker? FATHER: I don't think it will make her get in any quicker, but I do think it will give her a chance to tell us somethin' quicker. MOTHER: Well, don't start an argument now. The middle of the night is no time for a fight. FATHER: Any time's the time to fight with me. Sh! There's someone comin' up the stairs now. There's the key in the door. It's her. ... SINGING: FATHER: Bridget O'Flynn. BRIDGER: Yes, father dear .... FATHER: How cute you're sneakin' in. BRIDGET: I believe I'm here. FATHER: Yeah. Look at the state of your Sunday clothes. BRIDGET: Look at my shoes and me new silk hose. FATHER: You've been doin' the Charleston, I suppose. BRIDGET: What do you mean, Charleston? FATHER: Bridget O'Flynn. BRIDGET: Yes? FATHER: Just say your prayers. BRIDGET: What for? FATHER: You'll need them when your mother comes downstairs. Bridget O'Flynn— BRIDGET: What do you want? FATHER: Where have you been? BRIDGET: I was out. FATHER: This is a nice time for you to come in. BRIDGET: Well, the boyfriend took me for a ride. FATHER: I suppose the car broke down. BRIDGET: Why, no, we just run out of gas about ten miles from town. FATHER: And you walked home. BRIDGET: Look at my shoes ... FATHER: You did. Both your story and your shoes are mighty thin. BRIDGET: Ah, what do you want a girl to do? FATHER: If you have any friends that own a canoe— BRIDGET: Well— FATHER: Don't go near the water, Bridget darlin'.
FATHER: Bridget O'Flynn— BRIDGET: Don't holler so. I hear ya. FATHER: You'll not get out again. BRIDGET: Where will I go? FATHER: After last night you went far enough. Was it from your mother you learned this stuff? You and your paint and fancy powder puff. BRIDGET: You forgot the lipstick. FATHER: Bridget O'Flynn— BRIDGET: Uh-huh. FATHER: You'll get it yet. BRIDGET: Why? FATHER: Tell me now who owns that cigarette. BRIDGET: Ask ma. She knows. FATHER: Bridget O'Flynn— BRIDGET: (Sob) FATHER: Where've you been? BRIDGET: Leave me alone. FATHER: This is a nice time for you to come in. BRIDGET: (Sobs.) I went to see the big parade. FATHER: The big parade, me eye. Sure no parade is goin' to take that long in passin' by. BRIDGET: Father, I'll .... FATHER: See that you do. BRIDGET: Give me a chance. FATHER: Go on, go on. BRIDGET: There was nothin' wrong. I just went to a dance. FATHER: Well, take my advice and behave yourself, For as long as your father's got his health, He's a better man than you are, Bridget darlin'.
FATHER AND MOTHER: Bridget O'Flynn, where've you been, Bridget O'Flynn? Sure am I waitin' for you to begin. We want the truth and nothin' but. Now tell us what occurred. And we'll inform you in advance, we'll not believe a word. Bridget O'Flynn, don't you ... There's information we are lookin' for. FATHER: Just keep away from those dancin' halls. There's nobody there worthwhile at all. BRIDGET: That's where you met my mother, father darlin'.
[Also recorded by Billy Murray & A. Stanley, Black & White, Bob Thomas & Billy West, Harmony Bros, Jack Kaufman, Philips & Moore, The Okeh Kut-Ups. This information from the Online 78-rpm Discographical Project.]