A popular song from 1914.
Words by Jim Burris.
Music by Chris Smith.
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:
Lyrics
1. Mister Stephen Lee, fly as he can be
Who’s living on the second floor apartment twenty-three
His wife who’s slim, neat and trim
It seems as tho’ that here of late she’s wise to him
Last Tuesday night he had a date
So, Wednesday night she stayed out late
When she came home he had the nerve to start an argument
“Where have you been at this hour?” said he
“Well, where were you last night?” said she
“My club held a meeting, honey, honest and true”
Said she, “My club held a meeting, too”
Chorus:
It’s fifty fifty, it’s fifty fifty
Not sixty forty, nor seventy thirty
I’ve figured your percentage, Hon, it won’t do
You’ve been cheating me
And I’ve been square with you
I’m getting even, it’s even Stephen
I’m wise to your lies ’cause you opened up my eyes
If you want to get along and be a friend of mine
It’s got to be fifty fifty all the time
2. “Now you needn’t fret, I’m no suffragette
Just bet your bottom dollar
I’ll get even with you yet
“For you’re to blame,” she exclaimed
“The way that you’ve been acting man it is a shame
Just here of late I have been told
That I’ve begun to look so old
Now Steve, you know I’m only six months older, sir, than you
Now listen, dear, to what I will say
You promised me that you’d obey
The name of your lodge it may be “Night-Owls” that’s true
There’s a female lodge by the same name, too”