A 1926 popular song.
Words and music by Eugene West and Will Cambas.
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:
Lyrics
- I am often told
When I was three years old
I was a beautiful child
Neighbors fondled me
And held me on their knee
I was so gentle and mild
Those are the days that I miss
And I’ve been thinking of this
Chorus
If they’d baby me now like they babied me then
Oh! how I’d love to be a baby again
When my nurse hugged me I hollered, “Wow! Wow!”
I wish some nurse would try hugging me now
Just imagine the bliss if some beautiful miss
Came to me now and said, “Give Mamma a kiss”
My sweet baby kisses would be all the rage
The women would say, “Ain’t he smart for his age?”
If they’d baby me now like they babied me then
I’d love to be a baby again
- My folks always say
That I would run away
From being petted or kissed
I could almost cry
Every time that I
Think of the fun that I missed
Where are those kind-hearted girls
Who used to play with my curls?
Chorus
If they’d baby me now like they babied me then
Oh! how I’d love to be a baby again
Think what would happen if Dora or Pearl
Asked me if I was a boy or a girl
While I sat on her knee I would give her a wink
Point to the bottle and say, “Let’s have a drink”
And while she would straighten my dresses and pins
I’d pet her so much that she’d think I was twins
If they’d baby me now like they babied me then
I’d love to be a baby again
Sung here by Laurence Rubenstein: