The High Cost of Loving

A 1914 popular song.
Words by Alfred Bryan.
Music by George W. Meyer.


The sheet music:


Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:


Lyrics

  1. Billy O’Higgins was feeling quite sad
    His little sweetheart was treating him bad
    His weekly earnings were fifteen dollars
    That only paid for his shirts and collars
    Each time he’d ask her to go to a show
    All of her family wanted to go
    She’d call a taxi, to take them all home
    Then you would hear poor Billy moan

Chorus
The high cost of loving, the high cost of loving
It’s driving me mad, yes, driving me mad
The high cost of living is only a joke
The high cost of loving is keeping me broke
You borrow from mother, from sister and brother
You try to keep up with the style
Ev’ry brick-layer’s daughter, drinks wine just like water
I’ll have to stop loving a while

  1. Each night they’d linger around cabarets
    She could spend money in ten different ways
    After each drink, or a moment later
    All of his change she would tip the waiter
    When they played music his poor heart would sink
    She’d treat the orchestra all to a drink
    He would sit there and spend dime after dime
    While all that she’d spend was her time

Chorus
The high cost of loving, the high cost of loving
It’s driving me mad, yes, driving me mad
The high cost of living is only a joke
The high cost of loving is keeping me broke
You eat nickle lunches, and buy her milk punches
You try to keep up with the style
Ev’ry Mary and Jane wants to bathe in champagne
So, I’ll have to stop loving a while


Sung here by Vancha March: