From the musical “Sinbad”, 1891
Words and music by W. J. Melbourne
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by Wachy:
Lyrics
1. I have a sweetheart, and I know
He dearly loves me, too
And of course, I must love him
What else am I to do?
He’s popped the question to me and
He says I am his queen
And so he means to marry me
When I will be eighteen
CHORUS
I’m seventeen today
And as happy as a sunbeam
Heart so light free and bright
With my love it is such delight
And to me he’s never mean
I am his only queen
And he is going to marry me
When I will be eighteen
2. He asked my father for my hand
He frowned and said, “Oh no
There’s time enough to think of that
At least a year or so”
Of course we both felt hurt at first
At what seemed cruel fate
But we intend to cheer up
It’s not so long to wait
3. But fortune seems to smile on us
Tho’ father’s mind is firm
And won’t he be just awfully mad
When of our scheme he’ll learn
For we intend to run away
Because he was so mean
And so you see we will not wait
Till I will be eighteen