Lyr Req: Hang Out the Front Door Key (B H Burt)

Subject: Orig Lyr: Hang Out the Front Door Key
From: GUEST,Richie
Date: 05 Nov 06 - 11:42 AM

I am listening to "Hang Out the Front Door Key." Does anyone have the original lyrics by Benjamin Burt (circa 1908)?

There's a copy at the Indiana University Sheet Music collection but I can't seem to be able to view it or link to it.

Thanks,

Richie

Subject: RE: Orig Lyr: Hang Out the Front Door Key
From: GUEST
Date: 05 Nov 06 - 12:42 PM

http://lib.indstate.edu/about/units/rbsc/kirk/PDFs/sm1908_hang.pdf

Subject: RE: Orig Lyr: Hang Out the Front Door Key
From: GUEST,Dale
Date: 05 Nov 06 - 12:46 PM

http://lib.indstate.edu/about/units/rbsc/kirk/PDFs/sm1908_hang.pdf

I should have included instructions in case you don't do this regularly. First, you need a PDF reader. Right click the link, save as, put it where you want it, and there you go.

I see there are some rarely used lyrics there.

Subject: RE: Orig Lyr: Hang Out the Front Door Key
From: GUEST,Roger Knowles
Date: 05 Nov 06 - 01:50 PM

I learned this version from Bill Clifton back in the ,70s. He said it had been recorded by Uncle Lew Childre. I don't have any further details, I still sing it, though.
Enjoy.

Percy Wilson Gay would leave his home most every day
And then his wife would say "You'd better be back on time"
Percy swore that he would and he promised her that he'd be good,
But Percy couldn't work or settle down,
Foe when his work was through, he would find a friend or two,
And they would go out and hit the town,
He'd call her up each night as she sat home, and this is what
he'd say on the telephone....

"Hang out the front door key, dear, hang out the front door key,
And don't wait up for me, dear, I won't be home 'til three,
I'm out with a poor sick friend, dear, who'd do about the same for me,
So hang out a light in the hallway tonight, and hang out the front door key."

Well, one night when he got home he found himself there all alone,
His wife she had gone he knew not where,
And although it served him right, it gave him such an awful fright
To think he'd never again find her there.
She called him up at three saying "Hello Dear, This is me,
How does it feel to be there all alone? I'm out with some friends of mine,
We're having about the durndest time and I don't know when I'll ever make it home"
On the table there he found a note, he opened it and this is what she wrote...

"Hang out the front door key, dear.....etc.

Subject: RE: Orig Lyr: Hang Out the Front Door Key
From: GUEST,Richie
Date: 05 Nov 06 - 08:26 PM

Thanks for the PDF file and other lyrics.

I'll post the original lyrics from the PDF when I get some time. Isn't this the same melody used by Guthrie used for Do Re Mi?

Richie

Subject: RE: Orig Lyr: Hang Out the Front Door Key
From: GUEST,Roger Knowles
Date: 06 Nov 06 - 10:25 AM

Richie,
Yep, much about the same melody, IMHO,
Cheers,
Roger

Subject: Lyr Add: HANG OUT THE FRONT DOOR KEY (B H Burt)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 10 Nov 06 - 12:32 AM

Indiana University Sheet Music Collections also has the sheet music. Here's my transcription:

HANG OUT THE FRONT DOOR KEY
Benjamin Hapgood Burt, 1908.

VERSE 1. When Percy Wilson Gay left wifey ev'ry day,
She always used to say, "Be home on time.
Don't keep me waiting, dear, when dinnertime is near.
Be here when we sit down to dine."
He'd promise that he would, and swear that he'd be good,
But Percy never could quite settle down;
For when his work was through, he'd meet a friend or two,
And then he'd play around the town.
He would call her up most ev'ry night at home,
And he'd sing to her across the telephone:

CHORUS 1: "Hang out the front door key, Love. Hang out the front door key.
Don't you sit up for me, love. I may be out 'til three.
I'm with some poor sick friends, dear, who'd do the same for me.
Just leave a light in the hall tonight, and hang out the front door key."

VERSE 2. One night when he got home, he found himself alone.
Wifey had up and flown, he knew not where.
Although it served him right, he had an awful fright
To think he shouldn't find her there.
She called him up at three, and said, "Yes, dear, it's me.
How does it seem to be home all alone?
I'm with some friends of mine, having so good a time,
And I don't know just when I'll be home.
On the table, you will find a little note."
Percy opened it and this is what she wrote:

CHORUS 2: "Hang out the front door key, Love. Hang out the front door key.
You wait a while for me, love, just as I have for thee.
I'm with some poor sick friends, dear, who think a lot of me.
Your little wife's going to like high life, so hang out the front door key."

VERSE 3. Now Percy stays at home. He wouldn't dare to roam.
He leaves the boys alone when work is through.
He beats it home for fair to see if wifey's there.
When he goes out, he takes her, too.
Now all the sporting's done by Percy's younger son.
He's never home till one, two, three, or four.
He makes the poor old man look like an "also ran,"
Since Percy Junior's had the floor.
When he calls up father ev'ry night at home,
This is what he sings across the telephone:

CHORUS 3: Hang out the front door key, Dad. Hang out the front door key.
I won't be home till three, Dad. Don't you sit up for me.
I'm with some poor sick friends, Dad, just like you used to be.
Cheer up and smile. I'll be home in a while, so hang out the front door key.