A slow, nostalgic waltz with a fast patter, 1921.
Words and music by Harry Pease, Ed G. Nelson, Gilbert Dodge.
This Irish-American song references Little Annie Rooney (1890), Sweet Rosie O’Grady (1896), and Bedelia (1903). It was a hit in vaudeville and very popular at family and community sings.
The sheet music:
Accompaniment:
Lyrics
- Peggy O’Neil is a girl who could steal
Any heart, any where, any time
And I’ll put you wise how you’ll recognize
This wonderful girl of mine
Chorus
If her eyes are blue as skies, that’s Peggy O’Neil
If she’s smiling all the while, that’s Peggy O’Neil
If she walks like a sly little rogue
If she talks with a cute little brogue
Sweet personality, full of rascality, that’s Peggy O’Neil
- Everything’s planned for a wedding so grand
In the spring I will bring her the ring
Then somewhere in town we’ll both settle down
And all through the day I’ll sing
Patter
Annie Rooney set a fellow looney, but a million fellows
Get to feeling spooney, when they meet Peggy O’Neil
There was nothing slow with Molly O, but still and all I know
That she could never stand a show, with Sweet Peggy O’Neil
Rose O’Grady was a perfect lady, with a simple winning baby smile
Peggy isn’t simple that is why she has the other girlies beat a mile
So if you meet a girl who’s sweeter than Bedelia
And you feel you want to say “I’d like to steal yer”
That’s Peggy O’Neil
Sung here by Fred Feild: