A popular song from 1915.
Words and Music by Irving Berlin,
Cover Art by Albert W. Barbelle.
Copyright ©25 Mar 1915.
Sheet Music from the collection of Michael Deatz.
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:
Lyrics
- “What’s the matter? What’s the matter?”
Shouted Farmer Brown
As he saw a crowd of people rushing thro’ the town
“Is the town on fire or has someone met their death?”
One old Rube looked up at him
And cried all out of breath
Refrain:
Si’s been drinking cider and he’s acting like a fool
Take his wife and hide her
For he’s liable to treat her cruel
He’s acting mighty gay, he gave his Ingersoll away
Oh! oh! oh! oh! What will the neighbors say?
He told a naughty story to the Parson in the hall
Parson knew the answer so he didn’t laugh at all
The constable and sheriff
Have locked him in the barn
But Si’s been drinking cider
So he don’t give a good gosh darn
- Hiram Perkins heard the news
And my but he was vexed
Mumbled to himself
“I wonder what will happen next?”
Told his wife that right before
She rang the dinner bell
“No use talking, Mary Jane
The country’s gone to hell”
Refrain:
Si’s been drinking cider and he’s acting like a fool
Take his wife and hide her
For he’s liable to treat her cruel
He’s acting mighty gay, he gave his Ingersoll away
Oh! oh! oh! oh! What will the neighbors say?
He told an untrue story of a chicken with one leg
Drinking boiling water and it laid a hard-boiled egg
The sheriff won’t believe it, he claims that it’s a yarn
But Si’s been drinking cider
And he don’t give a good gosh darn
Sung here by Laurence Rubenstein: