From The Lester S. Levy Collection of Sheet Music (or click for a PDF file):


THE BLOOMERS
Words by O. Schrage. Music by W. Potstock.
Chicago: Wm. Potstock & Co., 1894.

1. It's been womens' aim, their greatest desire,
To dress like the men, wear trousers some day,
And since they are riding the pneumatic tires,
They discarded dresses, and bloomers display,
And when you are waking on the road or the street,
The girl with the bloomers you are sure to meet,
You think it is comic, alas! 'tis not so,
As often observed and been told.

CHORUS: Oh! those bloomers, Oh! those bloomers,
Look enchanting, on you girls,
Men admire your attire,
And to meet you they desire,
Men admire your attire,
And to meet you they desire.

2. A girl is out riding, her wheel takes a slip,
She takes a tumble, her bloomers they rip,
Her chum at the window she sees her fall,
Gets her brother's trousers who's out playing ball,
He has an engagement for theater that night,
His trousers are gone, imagine his plight!
He must stay at home, then receives a note,
That he don't need to call any more.

3. A girl has an engagement, go bicycle riding,
Her bloomers are lost, unable to find them,
She sees her father is taking a bath,
Then watches her chance and slips on his pants,
Then off on her wheel to meet her best man,
Just then he misses his only pair of pants,
He groans and he rages, denounces the girl,
In the bathtub remains 'til she returns.

4. A girl is out riding upon a country road,
She stops at a farmer's, to purchase some toast,
The bulldog he sees her, then makes a leap,
At the girl with the bloomers and out comes the seat,
Now think of the dilemma, it's serious indeed,
For a girl who is out on the road to meet,
You think it is comic, alas! 'tis not so,
As often observed and been told.