Chronologically the next version I have found is this one, from 1882. A lot of it still rings true today.

FOR GOODNESS' SAKE, DON'T (sic)

Words by D.S. Published C.H. Ditson & Co.,, New York, 1882.


I'm going to whisper some words in your ear, But for …
What- ever I say, and whatever you hear, For …
I think you'll acknowledge before you depart
That I've unreservedly opened my heart,
And whatever I know I to you will impart, but for …

Political parties have long held their sway, but for …
Yet some politicians are having their day, but for …
There's lately been witnessed a sort of love-feast,
With wages cut down and expenses increased,
Our side isn't frightened—no, not in the least! but for …

The harbor and river bill quickly was passed, but for …
Our members of Congress were certainly fast, but for …
We've harbors and rivers, and water enough
To get up a Navy both valiant and tough,
The things that we need now are ships, quantum suff., but for …

The Injuns are quiet now, just for a change, but for …
And over the prairies they cheerfully range, but for …
The government policy surely is queer,
That is, if it has one, which isn't quite clear,
The redskin's reducing our army each year, but for …

Now England treats Ireland with strict iron rule, but for …
She doesn't learn much in experience's school, but for …
If she would try kindness instead of hard raps,
She'd soften the hearts of those well-meaning chaps,
She'd find that there's strength in the old sod, perhaps, but for …

The rage now for acting is spreading quite fast, but for …
The stage is the bright goal of multitudes vast, but for …
It's all very well, but before you decide
To go on the stage, on the bus take a ride,
Twill save you some heartaches and money beside, but for …

The fearful disaster that's caused by a war, but for …
When soldiers all fight, tho' they know not what for, but for …
Depend on this fact, that if we have to fight,
We like to be sure that our cause is just right,
And prove that our side thus shall overcome might, but for …

The pedestrians at the Third Avenue Hall, but for …
In the end were so fagged that they scarcely could crawl, but for …
One bottled himself, oh, he looked very thin,
Vaughn made a brave struggle to capture the tin,
And O':Leary, tho' tired, was first to walk in, but for …

The cry of the public is civil reform, but for …
The government tries to calm down the storm, but for …
And what we all want at the fat public crib
Is men that will work hard and not to talk glib,
Nor try to breed humbug by telling a fib, but for …

Now mind what I've told you is private, you know, so for …
And if you'll excuse me, I think I will go, but for …
I could keep on singing, but might prove a bore,
A dozen of verses, aye, even a score,
But the fact is, I really don't know any more, but for …

Encore verse

I thought I had sung quite enough, so I went, but for …
Tho' I really believe that you're never content, but for …
I may tell you this much, and it's perfectly true,
That if I continue each night to please you,
My manager is going quite handsome to do, so for …