Lyr Add: Go Easy Mabel (Shields/Moran/Cobb/Helf)

Subject: Lyr Req: go easy, Mabel
From: topical tom
Date: 27 Oct 07 - 04:10 PM

Many years ago, this humorous song was sung on WWVA, Wheeling West Virginia (on the Jamboree) by a duo with the unlikely mame of Budge and Fudge, the Maze (Maize) Brothers.The chorus went

             Go easy, Mabel, go easy, Mabel!
             If you can't go easy, go as easy as you can!
             If you love your Percy, goodness gracious mercy,
             Go easy, Mabel, go as easy as you can!

    No, it's not a porn song!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: go easy, Mabel
From: topical tom
Date: 27 Oct 07 - 04:31 PM

Again, thanks, Peace. Some of the lyrics are missing, though. I just remembered the end of a verse that goes:


          When she held up three fingers he proudly walked the floor.
          When she held up four fingers he cut right loose and swore!

                      CHORUS

But then there are other words as the nurse kept coming out announcing new babies.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: go easy, Mabel
From: Peace
Date: 27 Oct 07 - 10:37 PM

Possibly added on by someone?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: go easy, Mabel
From: topical tom
Date: 28 Oct 07 - 12:50 AM

That is possible .It's a very old song.There may be many variations as modified by singers.

Subject: Lyr Add: GO EASY MABEL
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 30 Oct 07 - 12:27 AM

Here are the complete lyrics, transcribed from the sheet music at Indiana University Sheet Music Collections:

GO EASY MABEL
Words, Ren Shields, Ed Moran and Will D. Cobb. Music, J. Fred Helf.
New York: Helf & Hager Co. Inc., 1909.

1. Young Percival du Peyster was just a ribbon clerk,
But Mabel Fitch though he was rich and didn't have to work.
One pay-night he met Mabel and asked her out to dine;
And when he heard her order bird, he said, "Here goes my nine;"
But when she ordered wine, a chill ran down his spine.
He yelled so loud that all the crowd heard up and down the line:

CHORUS:
"Go easy, Mabel! Go easy, Mabel!
Mabel, if you love your Percy,
Cease! Oh, goodness! Gracious! Mercy!
Go easy, Mabel! I'm not a Pittsburgh man!
If you can't go easy, Mabel, go as easy as you can!

2. Said Mabel, "Gee! That's funny, a millionaire that's broke!"
But Percy, he laughed inwardly. He couldn't see the joke.
She ordered two more bottles and soon was feeling queer;
Cried, "I'm a sport. Hey! Bring a quart to everybody here!"
The waiter then drew near, and Percy shook with fear;
Then he turned pale, he thought of jail, and cried, "Oh, honey dear!" CHORUS

3. One year they have been married. The doctor came today,
And Percival was nervous till he heard what nurse would say.
The nurse held up two fingers. he proudly walked the floor.
When later, she just held up three, then Perce cut loose and swore;
But when she held up four, his hair he madly tore.
When he came to, he pleaded through the keyhole of the door: CHORUS

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Go Easy Mabel
From: topical tom
Date: 30 Oct 07 - 12:25 PM

Many thanks, Jim Dixon. That is exactly what I was looking for. Fortunately, I still remember the melody.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Go Easy Mabel
From: topical tom
Date: 30 Oct 07 - 12:33 PM

I know you sent me the sheet music, Peace, but unfortunately I can't read music.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Go Easy Mabel
From: Peace
Date: 30 Oct 07 - 12:57 PM

Possibly someone could make a midi of it? (I can't read music either, Tom.)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Go Easy Mabel
From: GUEST
Date: 20 Jun 18 - 04:34 PM

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Go Easy Mabel
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 25 Jun 18 - 09:44 PM

If someone wants to hear the tune, a recording can be heard at YouTube, sung by Edward Meeker on an Edison Standard Record in 1909. The same recording can also be found at the USCB Cylinder Audio Archive.