The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #56254   Message #879029
Posted By: Joe Offer
31-Jan-03 - 08:07 AM
Thread Name: Lyr Req: Turned Up: 'Mary Ellen at the church ...'
Subject: Lyr Add: WAITING AT THE CHURCH (Leigh/Pether)
Hmm. couldn't find that one posted here, but it was at this site.
-Joe Offer-


WAITING AT THE CHURCH
lyrics: Fred W. Leigh
Melody - Henry E. Pether, 1906

I'm in a nice bit of trouble, I confess;
Somebody with me has had a game.
I should by now be a proud and happy bride,
But I've still got to keep my single name.
I was proposed to by Obadiah Binks
In a very gentlemanly way;
Lent him all my money so that he could buy a home,
And punctually at twelve o'clock to-day-

Chorus:
There was I, waiting at the church,
Waiting at the church, waiting at the church;
When I found he'd left me in the lurch.
Lor, how it did upset me!
All at once, he sent me round a note
Here's the very note, this is what he wrote:
"Can't get away to marry you today,
My wife, won't let me!"

Lor, what a fuss Obadiah made of me
When he used to take me in the park!
He used to squeeze me till I was black and blue,
When he kissed me he used to leave a mark.
Each time he met me he treated me to port,
Took me now and then to see the play;
Understand me rightly, when I say he treated me,
It wasn't him but me that used to pay.

Just think how disappointed I must feel,
I'll be off me crumpet very soon.
I've lost my husband - the one I never had!
And I dreamed so about the honeymoon.
I'm looking out for another Obadiah,
I've already bought the wedding ring,
There's all my little fal-the-riddles packed up in my box
Yes, absolutely two of ev'rything.
This site (click) says Groucho Marx did a parody of this, called "There I Was, Waiting in my Shirt."
Sheet music at Levy Sheet Music Site. Search for "waiting at the church." There's a sequel, too.