From the production “The Blue Moon”, 1905
Words and music by Paul A. Rubens
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:
Lyrics
- Now children all, both large and small
When walking by the Hoogly
If ever you should chance to view
A tail just like a “Googlie”
‘Twill only show that close below
There crawls a fearsome creature
For a crocodile, perhaps may smile
But all the same he’ll eat you
Refrain:
Oh, be careful of the crocodile
Mind the crocodile don’t eat you
If you’re walking by the river
And you see the rushes quiver
Oh, be careful of the crocodile
If the crocodile should meet you
If he wants to sup he’ll eat you up
Unless you eat the crocodile
- And grownups, to don’t think that you
Can treat this matter lightly
You’d best look out what you’re about
As you go flirting nightly
Before you know how fast you go
The crocodile goes faster
And in the “Star” that night you are
An “‘orrible disaster”
Refrain:
Oh, be careful of the crocodile
Mind the crocodile don’t eat you
Girls don’t forget I’ve told yer
When you’re strolling with a soldier
Oh, be careful of the crocodile
If the crocodile should meet you
You may get wed soon but your honeymoon
Will be inside the crocodile
- Some day perhaps, you single chaps
Will soon get married maybe
And later on, you’ll gaze upon
Your own delicious baby
The troubles then, of married men
Arise one on another
But the worst of all, that can befall
Is wife’s proverbial mother
Refrain:
Don’t be careful of the crocodile
Ask the crocodile to meet her
He’s extremely long and lusty
And if she should cut up rusty
Introduce her to the crocodile
He will very likely eat her
When he sees the jaw of the mother-in-law
It’s hard luck on the crocodile
Sung by Laurence Rubenstein: