THE ORIGINAL FIFTY CENTS
(Sam Devere)

1
If you coud only see the gal I took to a fancy ball,
You could span around her little waist,
So neat and very small.
I thought about two oysters sure would fill her up complete,
Such a dainty, delicate little thing,
But this is what she eat;
A dozen raw, with a plate of slaw,
And a fancy Boston roast,
A big box stew, with crackers too,
And a soft crab on toast,
Then next she tried some oysters fried,
Her appetite was immense,
When she yelled for pie I thought I'd die,
For I had but fifty cents.

A dozen raw, with a plate of slaw,
And a fancy Boston roast,
A big box stew, with crackers too,
And a soft crab on toast,
Then next she tried some oysters fried,
Her appetite was immense.
When she yelled for pie I thought I'd die,
For I had but fifty cents.

2
Then after putting all this away,
She smiled so very sweet,
She said she wasn't hungry a bit,
She wished that she could eat.
For a little gal you bet your life,
She had a terrible tank,
She was only a little thirsty, too,
But this is what she drank:
A brandy and gum and a big hot rum,
And a schooner of lager beer,
Three whiskey skins and a couple of gins,
Did quickly disappear,
With a bottle of ale, and a gin cocktail,
She astonished all the gents,
I fell on the floor when she cried for more, For I had but fifty cents.

Brandy and gum and a big hot rum,
And a schooner of lager beer,
Three whiskey skins and a couple of gins,
Did quickly disappear,
With a bottle of ale and a gin cocktail,
She astonished all the gents.
I fell on the floor when she called for more,
For I had but fifty cents.

3
To finish it up this delicate girl
Cleaned out an ice cream can;
She said, "Oh, Sam, I'll tell mama,
You're such a real nice man.
She said she'll bring her sisters along,
Next time she went for fun,
When I showed the man my fifty cents,
Why this is what he done;
He broke my nose, he tore my clothes,
He shook me out of breath,
I took the prize for two black eyes,
He clubb'd me half to death;
Gave me no chance but made me dance,
And he fired me over the fence.
Take my advice, don't try it twice,
When you've got but fifty cents.

He broke my nose he tore my clothes,
He shook me out of breath;
I took the prize for two black eyes,
He clubed me most to death;
Gave me no chance but made me dance,
And he fired me over the fence.
Take my advice, don't try it twice,
When you've got but fifty cents.

"The Original Fifty Cents, words & music composed and sung by Sam Devere through the United States." White - Smith & Co., Boston, copyright 1885.

Sheet music at American Memory, 5pp.