From “STOP, LOOK, LISTEN,” 1916.
Alternate title: “Sextette—Stop! Look! Listen!”
Words and Music by Irving Berlin.
Standard Edition Songs of Yesterday printed later.
Copyright ©13 Jan 1916.
Sheet Music from the collection of Michael Deatz.
The sheet music:
Lyrics
VERSE 1
Love will make a fool of any man, it has been said,
No-one can advise him, for his heart will rule his head.
He names the wedding day, just throws himself away;
Before the wedding all his friends will come to him and say:
CHORUS 1
“Stop! Look! Listen to a friend’s advice;
Better look before you leap,
Or you’ll be in water deep.
For God’s sake don’t get married;
Don’t give up your name.”
Then he’ll stop, look, listen to his friend’s advice—
But he’ll go out and marry just the same.
VERSE 2
Mister Brown, a widower, was handing out advice
To his son, who fell in love with someone very nice.
He whispered to the lad, “To marry would be bad;
I know just what I’m saying—take a tip from your old dad:
CHORUS 2
“Stop! Look! Listen to your dad’s advice;
She’s a nice girl, that is true,
But she’ll never do for you.
So tie a can to Cupid;
Lay him on the shelf.”
Then he stopped, looked, listened to his dad’s advice—
While his dad went and married her himself.
VERSE 3
There’s a railroad on Long Island, not so far away;
Accidents occur there almost every other day.
The man who owns the line said “The fault’s not mine.
Because at every railroad crossing you will find this sign:
CHORUS 3
“Stop! Look! Listen! Always safety first;
If there were no such display,
You would pass right on your way.
But they insist you linger
By the railroad track;
So you stop, look, listen, then you hear a crash;
And the next day your family’s dressed in black.”