A 1902 popular song.
Words and music by A. L Robb and J. Fred Helf.
Sheet music provided by Carrie Hall:
Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:
Lyrics
1. Eph Green’s wife said to him one day
“See here, my colored friend
You’re flying just too high for me
And this is got to end
For when I ask you for some coin
You always are without
If you’ve got money in the bank
Why just go and dig it out
You know in every drove of cows
Out in the pastures green
‘Round one cow’s neck there is a bell
Perhaps this fact you’ve seen
This bell cow always heads the bunch
And leads them on their way
The rank and file fall in the rear
So it’s up to me to say”
Chorus:
“If you can’t be a bell cow, fall in behind
It wouldn’t grieve me, if you should leave me
I wouldn’t mind
It ain’t any use for to frown and to kick
If the pace is too fast, why you’d better not stick
If you can’t be a bell cow, fall in behind”
2. “You stick all right,” said Mrs. Green
You’re worse than royal glue
The only time you leave this house
Is when the rent is due
For when the landlord hits the door
You make tracks for the gate
If that’s diplomacy, why then
As a diplomat you’re great
An envelope would hold your clothes
A pillbox hold your dough
You’ve got the laziest man in town
Just beat a mile or so
You want to pull the rope right back
And transfer from this line
You wasn’t made to lead a bunch of
You’re what actor folks call shine”