I'VE GOT TO GET BACK TO WORK
Words and music by Frank Leo.
London : Francis, Day & Hunter, ©1903.
As sung by Alf Gibson on "A Night at the Music Hall, Disc C" (2006)

VERSE 1: Now I'm a man with a decent job.
Me weekly wages are thirty bob.
I tune pianos at three and six a time.
While I was tuning one today, the lady come to me
And said: "Come kiss me, pretty one," and sat upon me knee.
Said I: "Me dear, don't get the spike(?),
But I would kiss you as long as you bloody well like—

CHORUS 1: "But I've got to get back to work, me dear; I've got to get back to work."
There she squatted upon me knee
Till her husband come home to tea.
He rushed up with a carving knife and said with a fearful smirk:
"You've got to die." I said: "Don't you be silly; I've got to get back to work."

VERSE 2: When I got married, or shall I say,
When I got buried—it's more that way—
I got to chapel an hour before the time.
What a long time the parson was when he commenced the job!
I got me gamp and said as I just tapped him on the knob:
"You'll pardon me, I know, old man,
But I would like you to cut it as short as you can—

CHORUS 2: " 'Cause I've got to get back to work, old boy; I've got to get back to work."
When he said, "You are joined for life,"
I turned round and I kissed the wife.
She said: "Where shall we go, me dear?" and give me a saucy smirk.
I said: "You can pop off wherever you like, but I've got to get back to work."

VERSE 3: I went to stay at a country farm.
The life for me has a perfect charm.
Burke—that's the farmer—he's very much cross-eyed.
On the last day, he said to me: "Before you go to town,
I'm going to kill a pig, my boy, and you can hold it down."
I said: "All right; I'll lend a hand,
But I should like you to thoroughly understand—

CHORUS 3: "I've got to get back to work today; I've got to get back to work."
When he picked up the knife, you see,
Each crossed eye looked direct at me.
I said: "Who are you looking at?" "I'm looking at t' pig," said Burke.
I said: "Well, you let somebody else hold it; I've got to get back to work."