The version in the database was apparently harvested from the "Women's Song Circle" thread, posted by "A Male" - I don't know whose initials are on the version in the database (maybe mine, but it shouldn't be). The lyrics on Bruce's site appear to be identical - Bruce, where did you get yours?

I'm wondering about that 1908 date in the database. Maybe I'm showing my California regionalism, but I'm guessing that the Newport and Manhattan Beach referred to are locations in the Los Angeles area, and I don't think those communities were settled (or named) by 1908.

For the sake of comparison, I'm going to break with usual procedure and post the lyrics from our database here, and then I have a couple of versions from Randolph to add.
-Joe Offer-

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MOTHER, MAY I GO OUT TO SWIM (BATHING SONG)^^^
(Lester Keith)

A sweet little peach from Manhattan Beach
Was strolling upon the sand,
And met a young sport from jolly Newport
Who thought she was perfectly grand
She murmured to him, "I'd go take a swim,
But I am engaged to be wed,
Though it's very warm, it's very bad form."
"Yours looks good to me," he said
She answered right away, "To Ma I used to say"

cho: Mother may I go out to swim,
    Yes my darling daughter,
    Hang your clothes on a hickory limb,
    But don't go near the water.
    You may look cute in your bathing suit,
    But act just as you oughter,
    Now and then you can flirt with the men,
    But don't go near the water.

This dapper young swell then said to the belle,
"Please come out and dine with me,
It's quite impolite, but come out tonight,
I love you and you must agree,"
She answered in haste, "It's very bad taste
To dine with a stranger I'm told:"
But her taste was fine for champagne and wine
Cost him twenty dollars cold,
And afterwards he thought, Of what her mother taught

Sung by Julian Eltinge of Cohan & Harris' "Honey Boy" Minstrels

Copyright 1908. [With music. I suspect the songwriters Keith Lester,
Lester W. Keiffer, Lester Keith, and Lester W. Keith are the same
person, but who was he?. For the chorus see the Opie's Oxford
Dictionary of Nursery Rhymes, among other places.

filename[ DARLDAUG
JO
oct99
^^^