GET UP
Words and music by Robert Hood Bowers
As recorded by Bert Williams, 1920.

Trouble comes to everyone in life
At some time or another.
Most o' my troubles is with my wife;
The rest of 'em, her mother.
Don't ask me what the matter is, no sir!
Nor what it's all about, either.
But whenever I desire to sleep,
Then one of 'em is bound to shout:

"Get up.
Get up.
Don't you hear I'm callin' you?
Come on, brother; get up.
Get up now.
What are you layin' there fo', hm?
Ah, mercy, just lay around here like a lazy Turk.
Whatever you see, you got a chance to shirk.
You better get up and hustle now and go and find yourself some work.
Come on, brother; get out; get up; get up!"

Last night in a prize fight I took part; 'twas with a dark-skinned brother.
First he hit me with one fist and behold! He landed the other.
All the stars in the firmament were clustered round about,
And as I slowly opened my eyes, I heard somebody shout:

"Come on, get up, brother, get up, get up
Don't you hear me callin' ya, hm?
Come on, come on, get up.
Oh, get up.
What you layin' there for? Huh?
No, no, it's over.
… layin' round there like a settin' hen,
Still waitin' for that count o' ten.
Come on, better move on, I ain't see your end now
Get up brother; get up; it's over; it's over; get up!"