WHO PAID THE RENT FOR MRS. RIP VAN WINKLE
(Lyric - Alfred Bryan Music - Fred. Fischer ~ 1914)
(Levy Collection - box 154a item 148)

Oh, oh, many years ago
Lived the wife of happy Rip Van Winkle
One day she drove poor Rip away
As the little stars began to twinkle
All that he had, he had under his hat
And she was glad to see him go,
So, over the hill he went
Left her without a cent
One thing I'm anxious to know

CHORUS: Who paid the rent for Missus Rip Van Winkle,
When Rip Van Winkle went away?
And while he slept for twenty years
Who was it kissed away her tears?
She had no friends in the place
Had no one to embrace
But the landlord always saw her
With a smile on her face
Who paid the rent for Missus Rip Van Winkle
When Rip Van Winkle went away?

Oh, oh, many years ago
Napoleon crossed the Alps one day in winter
Oh, oh, history tells us so
Julius Caesar stepped upon a splinter
Miss Cleopatra she knew how to love
She put a Mark on Anthony
So, I searched in history
To clear the mystery
One thing that's worrying me

Chorus