Learning to Ride the Byke

A music hall song from 1897.
Words and music by Harold Montague.

Sheet music provided by Ross Boyle:

Learning-to-Ride-the-Byke – Sheet MusicDownload

Accompaniment by Ross Boyle:

Learning-to-Ride-the-Byke – MIDIDownload

Lyrics

  1. If you’re waking, call me early
    Call me early, mother dear
    For tomorrow’ll be the happiest time
    Of all the glad New Year
    Before it’s breakfast time mother
    When seven the clock shall strike
    For I’m learning to ride the byke, mother
    Learning to ride the byke
  2. I sleep so sound all night, mother
    That I shall never wake
    If you don’t call me early
    My morning ride to take
    I must wear my bloomer dress, mother
    The dress that you dislike
    For I’m learning to ride the byke, mother
    Learning to ride the bike
  3. I’ll go down some quiet lane, mother
    The while I learn to ride
    Where no rude man can see me
    As I wobble from side to side
    For when I ride in the town, mother
    The little boys chi-ike
    When they see me riding the byke, mother
    Learning to ride the bike
  4. As I was riding yesterday
    Whom think ye I should see
    But Robin, leaning over a gate
    And casting eyes at me
    ‘Twas very windy, mother
    But he rather seemed to like
    Watching me ride the byke, mother
    Learning to ride the byke
  5. I’m afraid he thought me rude, mother
    For I didn’t speak at all
    I daren’t take my eyes off the handles
    Or I’m sure I’d have bumped the wall
    It’s awfully hard to steer, mother
    You can’t do what you like
    And the sheel in front will waggle so, mother
    Learning to ride the byke
  6. He told me long ago, mother
    That when I’d learnt to ride
    He’d ask me that same day, mother
    To be his bloom(er)ing bride
    And when I’ve learn it properly
    As every grill will od
    For our honeymoon, we’ll go, mother
    On a bicycle made for two

Sung here by Fred Feild: