A popular song from 1920
Words by Andrew B. Sterling
Music by Gus Van & Joe Schenck
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:
Lyrics
Reenie is captivating, Jeanie is fascinating
Gay Babette is such a sly coquette
And sweet Marie is such a dear little pet.
While little Mary Brown is the homeliest girl in the town. But,
Chorus 1
All the boys love Mary.
They follow her around, they chase her all around.
Reenie and Jeanie, Babette and Marie
Are crying “what’s the matter with me?”
But all the boys love Mary.
And when she laughs you’d think she’s going to cry.
But they ain’t got what Mary’s got
A daddy with a cellar full of you know what. And
All the boys love Mary, coming thro’ the Rye.
Chorus 2
All the boys love Mary.
They used to be content with half of one percent.
Reenie and Jeanie, Babette and Marie
Are serving nothing stronger than tea. But
All the boys love Mary.
They know just where to go when they feel dry.
They come in pairs from everywhere
And Mary winks and leads them down the cellar stairs, and
All the boys love Mary, coming thro’ the rye.
Extra Chorus (from 78rpm records by Billy Murray and Eddie Cantor)
All the boys love Mary.
And every night they call. They line up in the hall.
Waiting, debating on who got there first,
And sighing, crying, oh what a thirst! And
All the boys love Mary.
If you could see her, you would wonder why.
But all they know is “come let’s go.
Hey Mary, get the corkscrew and look out below!”
And all the boys love Mary, for she comes thro’ with rye.
Verse 2
Reenie is quite athletic. Jeanie is sympathetic.
Gay Babette at golf is quite a champ,
And sweet Marie can roll her eyes like a vamp.
While Little Mary Brown is a sight in the handsomest gown.
But,
Sung by Laurence Rubenstein: