I recently borrowed a copy of "Get away old man, get away" and thought I'd post it as it has additional words to the one in the index. I borrowed the record as it also features some instrumental Jew's harp. The other side is "The runaway train" which used to feature on Uncle Macs on Saturday morning (children's programme in the UK) every other week. Don't know if it was this version though.

Crummit was definitely spelt with two m's, so are we talking about the same person? Also, out of idle curiosity, is there an easy way to find out the release date of 78 records? "Does shoo fly, don't bother me" appear commonly in American songs, as I seem to have heard it before?

GET AWAY OLD MAN, GET AWAY

Sung by Vernon Dalhart
Regal MR 346
Attr. Crummit

Now listen all you maidens, about to choose a man,
Don't take one who is ancient, get a young one if you can,
'Cos if you marry an old man, now list' to what I say,
You're sure to meet a young man, who will steal your heart away.

CHORUS: For an old man he is old, for an old man he is grey,
But a young man's heart is full of love, get away old man, get away.

Be sure to get a young man, with red and rosy cheek,
Don't get a man with a cane in his hand, whose back is very weak,
I'd rather marry a young man, with his pockets lined with silk,
Than to marry an old man with a hundred cows to milk. CHORUS

I'd sooner marry a young man, with an apple in his hand,
Than to marry an old man, with a hundred acres of land.
Don't ever marry an old man and here's the reason why,
His lips are all tobacco juice and his chin is never dry. CHORUS

Don't ever marry an old man, who's got a room of tears,
You'll have to rub his creaking joints; if that ain't work, what is?
Don't ever marry an old man, 'cos when the winter's cold,
A nice warm place to put your feet is better far than gold. CHORUS

Get away, get away, get away.
Get away, get away, get away.
Shoo fly, don't bother me.
Shoo fly, don't bother me.
Get away old man, get away.

HTML line breaks added. --JoeClone, 3-Sep-02.