Lyr Req: The Bird on Nellie's Hat (Lamb/Solman)

Subject: Lyr Add: THE BIRD ON NELLIE'S HAT (Lamb/Solman)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 19 Aug 11 - 01:14 AM

My transcription from the sheet music:

THE BIRD ON NELLIE'S HAT (YOU DON'T KNOW NELLIE LIKE I DO!)
"Featured by May Ward, the Dainty Little Comedienne."
Words by Arthur J. Lamb. Music by Alfred Solman.
New York: Jos. S. Stern & Co., 1906

1. Ev'ry Saturday, Willie got his pay,
Then he'd call for Nell,
Trousers neatly pressed and nice white vest,
Buttonhole bouquet as well.
On Nellie's little hat there was a little bird.
That little bird knew lots of things, it did, upon my word;
And in its quiet way, it had a lot to say,
As the lovers strolled along:

CHORUS 1: "I'll be your little honey; I will promise that,"
Said Nellie as she rolled her dreamy eyes.
"It's a shame to take the money," said the bird on Nellie's hat.
"Last night she said the same to Johnny Wise."
Then to Nellie Willie whispered as they fondly kissed, "I'll bet that you were never kissed like that."
"Well, he don't know Nellie like I do," said the saucy little bird on Nellie's hat.

2. In a shady nook, by the quiet brook,
Nell and Willie fish.
Lips together meet in kisses sweet.
Love is such a dainty dish!
Then Nellie said to Will such pretty things galore,
But ev'rything that Nellie said, the bird had heard before;
And as he took her hand, and said, "Oh, ain't it grand!"
Nellie winked the other eye.

CHORUS 2: "Now I haven't caught a fish; what do you think of that?"
Said Nellie with a most bewitching look.
"You can bet she knows her business," said the bird on Nellie's hat,
"And Willie is the fish she's goin' to hook."
"Oh, it's twelve o'clock," said Willie, as he took her home. "I'll bet you're never out as late as that!"
"Well, he don't know Nellie like I do," said the saucy little bird on Nellie's hat.

3. Autumn came along, love's young dream all wrong;
Will went round to call.
Servant with a grin said, "She's not in.
Nellie's gone away, that's all."
Poor Willie's heart was broke; his life seemed all in vain,
Until upon Fifth Avenue he met his Nell again.
Said he, "We meet once more!"
Said she, "Love's dream is o'er,
But we can be real good friends.

CHORUS 3: "And I'll keep your presents, honey, just for old times' sake,"
Said Nellie as she rolled her dreamy eyes.
"She has fixed him good and plenty," said the bird on Nellie's hat.
"Oh, Willie, Willie, when will you be wise?"
"Well, but how about the diamond engagement ring? Of course," said Willie, "you'll return me that!"
"Well, he don't know Nellie like I do," said the saucy little bird on Nellie's hat.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Bird on Nellie's Hat
From: GUEST,Jane Ann Liston
Date: 18 Aug 11 - 08:38 AM

Thank you very much for the replies. I have duly downloaded the pdf and will work on it for my next party-piece. A very useful site, the Lester Levy Collection; I may well return to it.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Bird on Nellie's Hat
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 14 Aug 11 - 04:44 PM

The sheet music & full words (plus wonderful cover drawing) is available as a free PDF download from the fantastic Lester S. Levy Collection. I can't get the blue clickie to work, but I know the downloads do because I just nabbed one. You can Google "Lester Levy Collection" or else paste this in your browser bar

http://levysheetmusic.mse.jhu.edu/

and search it by keywords (I used "Bird + Nellie's + Hat" and got it straightaway). Plenty of other great stuff to look at in there, too.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Bird on Nellie's Hat
From: SINSULL
Date: 14 Aug 11 - 02:19 PM

Joan Morris' album Vaudeville has a good recording of this and some other gems.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Bird on Nellie's Hat
From: SINSULL
Date: 14 Aug 11 - 02:14 PM

I have some:

Every Saturday Willie got his pay
Then he'd call for Nell
Trousers neatly pressed and nice white vest
Buttonhole bouquet as well.
On Nellie's little hat
There sat a little bird
That little bird knew lots of things
It did upon my word
And in its quiet way
It had a lot to say
As the lovers strolled along.

I'll be your little honey, I will promise that,
Said Nellie as she rolled her dreamy eyes,
It's a shame to take the money,
Said the bird on Nellie's hat,
Last night she said the same to Johnny Wise,
Then to Nellie Willie whispered as they fondly kissed,
I'll bet that you were never kissed like that.
Well he don't know Nellie like I do,
Said the saucy little bird on Nellie's hat.


Missing lyrics


Winters almost come and love's sweet dream all gone
Willie calls for Nell
Servant with a grin says "She's not in.
Nellie's gone away that's all."
Poor Willie's heart is broke
His life on earth all done.
Until upon the avenue he meets his Nell again.
Says he (missing lyrics)
Says she "Love's dreams all gone
But we had a real good time


And I'll keep all of your presents just for old time's sake
Says Nellie as she rolls her dreamy eyes.
She has fixed him good and plenty says the bird on Nellie's hat
Oh Willie Willie when will you be wise?
Ah but what about my diamond engagement ring?
Of course says Willie, you'll return me that?????
But he don't know Nellie like I do
Says the saucy little bird on Nellie's hat!

Subject: Lyr Req: The Bird on Nellie's Hat
From: GUEST,Jane Ann Liston
Date: 14 Aug 11 - 09:07 AM

I've just heard part of the above song sung by Hattie Jacques on Radio 4 Extra. However I am having trouble finding all the words not to mention the music, respectively by Lamb and Solman. Can anybody out there please help?