From The Mercersburg Academy Song Book by William Mann Irvine (Mercersburg, Pa.: W. M. Irvine, 1901), page 4:


LAUGHING SONG

1. When I go out a-courtin' all dressed in my Sunday best,
I have to take the police along, for the girls won't give me rest.

CHORUS: Oh! there's somebody laughing, laughing,
Somebody laughing, laughing,
Somebody laughing at me.
Oh! there's somebody laughing, laughing,
Somebody laughing, laughing,
Somebody laughing at me.

2. My mule's a lively critter, as frisky as a calf,
But when he kicked me on the shins, you should hear the people laugh.