Lyr Add: I'm the Ghost of Kelly (Jerome/Schwartz)

Subject: Lyr Add: I'M THE GHOST OF KELLY (Jerome/Schwartz)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 28 Jul 15 - 12:58 AM

I looked this up for a friend, so I might as well post it here, too.

She says Finbar Furey performs this, but he apparently hasn't recorded it. I couldn't find any other recordings either.

Information and lyrics from Arizona State University (Tempe, AZ):


I'M THE GHOST OF KELLY
Words by William Jerome; music by Jean Schwartz.
New York: Jerome H. Remick & Co., ©1910.

From the sheet music cover: "Sam S. & Lee Shubert Inc. present Eddie Foy in Up and Down Broadway"

1. What's the matter? Why this chatter?
Everybody seems afraid of me.
Why this riot? Just keep quiet.
I'm just as harmless as can be.
For the world above I wouldn't harm you.
Little tots I always use them right.
All I want to do is simply charm you,
And fill your little hearts with fond delight.
They only let me come out in the night.

CHORUS: I'm the ghost of Kelly,
K-E-L-L-Y.
I'm the ghost of Kelly.
You can tell it by the color of my tie.
With the same old smile, the same old tile,
My heart's as warm as toast.
I'm on parade; don't be afraid!
I'm only Kelly's ghost.

2. I departed, broken-hearted,
Killed by too much popularity.
Now I'm buried with McGinty,
Down at the bottom of the sea.
Ev'ry Dago organ grinder ground me,
Tortured me until I lost my breath.
By the side of Harrigan they found me.
The doctor said we'd both be sung to death.
I really had a most unhappy death. CHORUS.


Sheet music cover - Sheet music

Here's some information about the composer, Jean Schwartz

"Kelly" might refer to Michael J. "King" Kelly (1857-1894), a baseball player and vaudeville performer. "Harrigan" might refer to Edward "Ned" Harrigan (1844-1911) who worked in vaudeville with Kelly.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: I'm the Ghost of Kelly (Jerome/Schwartz)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 01 Aug 15 - 01:59 AM

The latest news I have from my friend is that this is NOT the song Finbar Furey sings. She says he wrote a new song, using the title taken from the old song.