Joshua courted Miss May
To be correct I should say
She courted him, for he was so shy
Would not say "Boo" although no one knew why.

They walked out for months and for months
But he never asked her to wed
They'd sit hand in hand where the dark shadows fall
They'd sit there for hours and say nothing at all
Then one night May blushingly cried

Chorus
Joshua, Joshua, why don't you call and meet Mama?
She'd be glad to know, you are my best beau
Joshua, Joshua, nicer than lemon squash you are
Oh by gosh you are, Josh - u - osh - u - a

Joshua said he would call
But never meant to at all
He'd never met May's loving Mama
But he knew something of what Mamas are

Each night he'd walk May to her gate
But never would venture inside
He'd give her a kiss, and he'd wish her goodnight,
Then quicker than thought he would vanish from sight
Whenever May lovingly cried

chorus

They were out walking one day
"Oh look! There's Mama!" said May
Joshua stared, said May with a sigh
She is my step-mama, younger than I

The couple were soon introduced
He gazed with surprise at Mama
Perhaps he preferred her, perhaps lost his head
But Joshua married the mother instead
And May never says now to Pa

Chorus

My grandmother reported that my uncle as a child used to go around the house gruffly singing the chorus.


The above is how I remember it. I had it in a book which has since been lost...