She Was Just A Sailor’s Sweetheart

A serio-comic mock ballad, 1925
words and music by Joe Burke


The sheet music:


Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:


Lyrics

  1. It was on a Tuesday evening
    At the home of Madge Malone
    There was quite a celebration
    For her father wasn’t home
    There were songs and witty stories
    And a bottle on the shelf
    When up sprang Dan McGrew and said
    “Here’s a song I wrote meself”
    “Sing it, Dan,” “Right-o, I will”

Chorus
She was just a sailor’s Sweetheart
And she loved her sailor lad
But he left her broke in Hartford
He was all she ever had
But she still believes in sailors
And she’s true to the Red, White and Blue
And altho’ she’s barred
From the Navy yard
Oh! she loves her sailor boy
Positively!

  1. The applause rang out like thunder
    And they yelled, “Well done, McGrew
    Then they lifted high their glasses
    Crying, “Dan, lad, here’s to you”
    “Would ya have me learn ya history?”
    Asked their hero with a smile
    “And sing of Cleopatra
    Who vamped Marc Antony by the Nile”
    “Sing it Dan” “Ye Gods, I will”

Chorus
She was just a sailor’s Sweetheart
And she loved her sailor lad
But he left her broke in Hartford
He was all she ever had
But she still believes in sailors
And she’s true to the Red, White and Blue
And tho’ she got sore
When he broke her jaw
Oh! she loves her sailor boy
Absolutely!


Sung here by Laurence Rubenstein: