Lyr Add: A Fly's Day Out (from Gracie Fields)

Subject: Lyr Add: A FLY'S DAY OUT (from Gracie Fields)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 28 Mar 11 - 07:01 PM

Found at Bill Hanks' web site - Click to play an mp3 file (Be patient; the first 22 seconds are silence.)


A FLY'S DAY OUT
Words and music by Jimmy Kennedy
As sung by Gracie Fields, 1932

1. A fly woke up one morning, rubbed his eyes, then looked about,
And said, "It's my birthday today. I'm going to see it out."
He washed his legs in someone's beer, his face and body too,
And dried himself on a man's moustache and through the window flew.
He buzzed around a p'liceman's nose, then shouted out, "Hooray!
Oh, we won't go home till morning. It's my birthday today."

2. He saw a hotel down the street and gaily flew in there
And had a taste of ev'rything upon the bill of fare,
And when he'd sampled sev'ral drinks he found behind the bar,
He did a tightrope walking act on a bookmaker's cigar.
He shouted to a million flies round something on a tray,
"I'm Barnacle Bill the sailor. It's my day out today."

3. He went into the garden just to get a breath of air,
And saw a lovely lady fly he'd met in Leicester Square.
He said, "Have you had lunch yet?" "No, not yet, dear," she replied.
So back into the Grand Hotel they both flew side by side.
He whispered, "Have a cocktail," but the only thing she said
Was ".....(?) It's our day out today."

4. To let her see how smart he was, and feeling full of vim,
He nose-dived in a glass of beer to show her he could swim,
And when the waiter tried to capture him, he did a bunk,
And walked the ceiling upside down to prove he wasn't drunk.
Then just as they sat down to dine, the band began to play
"Do not trust him, gentle maiden. It's his day out today."

5. He took her on a ... "Love, let's wander down the glen."
She answered, "No, 'cause mother said I must be home by ten;
But if you care to see me home, I think it's kind of you,
And I'll let you kiss me three times on the doorstep if you do."
But very soon she changed her mind and shouted with delight,
"Oh, we won't go home till morning. It's our night out tonight."


[The phrases in italics are sung to a melody that varies from verse to verse, and corresponds to the song being quoted from. I couldn't understand the phrase in verse 3.]