THE RED-HEADED SWEDE Words, Paul Morton; Tune: The Band Played On (“Casey would waltz with a strawberry blonde….”) As recorded by Stan Boreson and the Art Barduhn Trio on Linden (143 B), date unknown.
Hilda would dance with that red-headed Swede At the smörgåsbord. The others would plead but she paid them no heed At the smörgåsbord. Now Hilda was daring; she ate pickled herring, Drank every beer that was poured. His heart it did melt as she sliced him some smelt At the smörgåsbord.
Hilda got herself a man; he said he was a pickled herring fisherman* At the smörgåsbord. She wouldn’t dance with no one else after he had told her that his name was Nels* At the smörgåsbord. They danced and danced until the hours of the morning, danced until they almost went right through the flooring,* Never stopped until the manager said he was bored.* Hilda got herself a herring fisher even though he had an ugly-looking kisser* At the smörgåsbord.
Hilda soon married that red-headed Swede At the smörgåsbord. They had eighteen kids; now they all flip their lids At the smörgåsbord. But I am not kicking, though I took quite a licking, But now I am fully restored. ’Cause I was that Swede, ja, that square-headed Swede At the smörgåsbord.
And if you want to stay free Take this advice from me: Don’t go near the smörgåsbord.
- - - * Boreson sings these lines to the same tune as the previous verse, only dividing most quarter-notes into 2 eighth-notes.