My transcription from the audio file at the Internet Archive. I chose to transcribe it as standard English although Fyffe sings in Scots. Some words are doubtful; I’d appreciate it if someone else would listen and confirm or offer corrections.


I'M VERRA GLAD I'M MARRIT TAE THE WIFE
Words and music by Will Fyffe
As recorded by Will Fyffe on Regal G 8129, 1924.

VERSE 1. Oh, I used to work about as hard as any man I know.
At five o’clock in the morning, away I used to go,
Work away till twelve o’clock, and then go on till six,
Up and down the ladder-way a half-a-dozen trips.
The foreman used to swear at me as I went up and down,
But now he lifts his hat to me and he calls me Mr Brown.

CHORUS 1. To the wife, the wife, it’s all to the wife, [on repeat: “he left it to the wife”]
The finest little wife I’ve ever had in all my life.
Her father died and left her nearly twenty thousand pounds.
When we heard the news, the house went round and round and round.
She’s away down the road to buy a motorcar,
So I’ll never walk again in all my life.
I can lie in bed till twelve o'clock, get up, and then go back again.
I’m awful glad I’m married to the wife. REPEAT CHORUS 1.

VERSE 2. Oh, I never shall forget the night when first we heard the news.
The wife went on hysterical and I went on the booze.
Standing looking right and left and soon to left and right,
I stood upon my dignity and then felt good all night,
Stood upon Jamaica Bridge and suffered grief and pain,
Landed home and read the lawyer’s letter once again.

CHORUS 2. To the wife, the wife, I read it to the wife.
Twenty thousand pounds, my dear, it’ll last you all your life.
I looked at her; she looked at me; we didn’t know what to think,
So I fell unconscious and the wife fell down the sink.
The canary started whistling and the cat run up the rung.
I’d never laughed so much in all my life.
I got up and kissed the wife, a thing I hadn’t done for centuries.
I’m awful glad I’m married to the wife. REPEAT CHORUS 2.