Lyrics copied from Chas. K. Harris' Complete Songster by Charles Kassell Harris (Chicago: Frederick J. Drake & Co., 1903)


ALL FOR THE LOVE OF A GIRL
Charles K. Harris
(New York: Charles K. Harris, 1896)

1. Jack was a bright-eyed youngster. Merry and gay was he;
Mamie, his dear little sweetheart. Roguish and so fair was she.
One day while they were playing, this little maid for fun
Threw her hat into the water, then off for home she did run.
Jack looked at her for a moment, then at her hat sinking fast.
Off came his coat in a twinkling. Into the water he dashed.
Back came poor Mamie sobbing. There he stood with her hat.
"Don't cry. I'd do it all over, all for you, sweetheart," said Jack.

CHORUS: All for the love of a dear little girl,
All for a smile that will set your brain a-whirl,
Man gives up life and all joys in this world.
All for the love of a girl.
Yes, it was—

2. Years passed. Jack grew to manhood. Handsome and tall was he,
Loving his same little sweetheart. she was his fair bride to be.
Still Mamie loved to tease him as in the olden days,
Till one day he vowed he'd leave her, said he would sail far away.
She never thought him in earnest. She never dreamed he would go.
"If you do, I'll get another, someone who'll love me, I know."
He joined his ship that evening, though for her love he yearned.
Poor Mamie's heart it is breaking. Jack's ship has never returned.


[Johnny Horton wrote and recorded a different song called ALL FOR THE LOVE OF A GIRL.]