a 1922 popular song
words and music by Walter Donaldson
The sheet music:
Accompaniment:
Lyrics
- Early to bed, early to rise
That’s what I must do
I’m gonna head straight for my bed
When my supper’s thru
So when the dew starts falling
I’ll be in the hay
And when the birdies are calling
I’ll be on my merry way
Refrain
Can’t you picture me back in a little white shack
Away down East in Maine
Where a little white light will be burning each night
Till I wander back home again
How my heart’ll just dream by the little mill stream
At the end of every day
In the evening by the moonlight I love to stray
Can’t you picture my smile all the while
Surrounded by sunshine
Just imagine my folks when they see me
Coming their way, Say!
I’ll be packin’ my grip for a wonderful trip
On an old New England train
‘Cause it’s just as nice as Paradise
Away down East in Maine
- How did I know I’d ever grow
Lonesome, sad, and blue
I realize I’m not so wise roaming like I do
Thinking ’bout fields of clover
Fields of waving corn
I’ll start a-dreaming all over
When the robin says “Good Morn”
Patter
Peter Peter, Punkin eater, me oh! my
If it ever comes to eatin’ punkin pie
Peter Punkin never had a thing on me
I eat pie in any old key
Wait’ll my train gets in Maine once again
Wait’ll they see me there
Fritters and corn, HOT corn every morn
There on the bill of fare
Say my heart’ll be led to the little homestead
Even tho’ it’s mighty plain
But a brand new roof, a coat of paint
Will make it look like what it ain’t
I mean that homestead old and quaint
Away down East in Maine
Sung here by Fred Feild: