Bert William’s big hit in Ziegfeld’s Follies, 1919
words and music by Les Copeland and Alex Rogers
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:
Lyrics
- When my friend Billy Brown departed this life
I meant for to make Bill’s widow my wife
I will admit that Bill was my Pal
But Billy Brown’s widow was a handsome gal
I took her down to the courthouse one day
Had my Dollar ready, the license to pay
All at once Bill’s ghost without any fuss
Came up to me, and he whispered thus:
“You better
Chorus:
“Save your money, John, save your money, John
She might look nice, but take a ghost’s advice
You’ll regret it just as sure as your born
You better save your money, John
Save your money, John, it’s eternity
She made a corpse of me
For the Lord’s sake save your money, John”
- I was so frightened that I fainted away
I stayed unconscious many a day
But there at my bedside all the while
Was Billy Brown’s widow with that lovin’ smile
After three or four weeks had gone past
Pulled myself together, got my nerve at last
Took her way down to the courthouse once more
Bless me there sat Bill’s ghost
At that courthouse door: singing…
Sung here by Fred Feild: