A march song from “The Spring Chicken,” 1905
Words by George Grossmith, Jr
Music by Ivan Caryll
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:
Lyrics
1. When Autumn leaves are falling
I can hear my conscience calling
Duty waits for me
Vanish all the bars between us
For the present farewell, Venus
Wine and Melody
I abandon Jane’s caresses
Kitty’s eyes and Maudie’s tresses
Hold me in no thrall
But though Kitty, Maud and Jane
In Winter smile at me and vain
In spring I adore them all
Refrain:
I’m fond of any blonde
If any blonde be fond of me
I’ll let a sweet brunette
Come walking in my company
I’ll smile a little while
At any shade of maid you bring
I’ll kiss that one or this
I’m not capricious in the Spring
2. Sternly every sense refuses
To be wakened by the Muses
While the snow lies ’round
Mendelsohn is un melodious
Offenbach to me is odious
Verde has no sound
Though to rouse me you may choose
A march by Suppe or by Sousa
On deaf ears ’twill fall
In the Winter I will urge
That every melody’s a dirge
In Spring I applaud them all
Refrain:
Mozart can fill my heart
At his command I smile or weep
Wagner my soul will stir
Or softly soothe that soul to sleep
Gounod will still me, though
With Messager I sway and swing
My own pet gramaphone
Is never rusty in the Spring
3. When the chills of Winter rack us
I will turn my back on Bacchus
And his vinous schemes
Water for my thirst suffices
No green fairy me entices
In Hogarth ian dreams
For a stoup of choice Ayala
Crimson Beaune or old Marsala
I will never call
In the Winter I may think
No wine is fit for me to drink
In Spring I can drink them all
Refrain:
Bring me some Burgandy
The vintage that I love so well
White wine from River Rhine
Or matchless Nectar of Moselle
Then some Heidsieck or Mumm
Of cuvee rare whene’er I ring
Bring too some Mountain Dew
With sparkling water from the Spring