Lyr Req: You Ought to See the Missus in a Harem Sk

Subject: Lyr Req: You Ought to See the Missus in a Harem Sk
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 24 Feb 11 - 08:43 AM

You can hear this song at YouTube. It is the second of 2 songs in that "video." As usual, my transcription has a few gaps and uncertainties. I would appreciate any help in clarifying these.

YOU OUGHT TO SEE THE MISSUS IN A HAREM SKIRT
As sung by Harry Champion (1911)

1. I've got a wife and she's got me.
She's had me for an M-U-G.
Since we tied the knot in church,
She's been crowing on the household perch.
She wants all my overtime.
Working late, that's my crime.
But she's undergone a change,
Now goes in for fashions strange.

CHORUS: You ought to see the missus in a harem skirt,
Bagdad(?) harum-scarum.
She goes tripping like a gay young flirt.
Now she makes me wear 'em.
When she's off into the fried-fish shop,
Street kids shout, "I'll tear 'em!"
Turkish delight suits her all right.
She's longing to be living in a harem.

2. Once round the West she thought she'd go.
Shops on show, as of course you know.
When she saw the harem skirt,
She cries, "Harry, do you think they hurt?"
I didn't wear 'em, so wouldn't say.
She bought one, made me pay.
Five pounds ten from me she had,
But all these ... I swear were bad. CHORUS

3. Oh, what a sight the boys once had!
They all laughed. She looked mad.
Something wrong went with the strings,
Awfully ratty with her tapes and springs(?).
All at once she shouted, "Oh! Let me go!" I cried, "No."
That's why soon I felt a clown,
But, oh dear me, her pants fell down! CHORUS

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: You Ought to See the Missus in a Harem Sk
From: GUEST,the_wacko_jacko
Date: 08 Apr 11 - 06:23 AM

The chorus line 2 "Bagdad harum scarum" should be "Biff bang harum scarum" , and the last line of verse 2 reads "But all these ... I swear were bad " I think is "but all these twists I swear were bad"