You Will Have To Sing an Irish Song

(Where the Little Shamrock Grows)
From the Ziegfeld Follies of 1908.
Words by Jack Norworth.
Music by Albert Von Tilzer.


Sheet music provided by Nicholas Leunissen:


Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:


Lyrics

I’ve been having troubles of me own
Since I left old Ireland you see
For there’s a Dutch man who won’t leave me alone
He wants to spark with me
So, underneath my window every night
He comes ’round to serenade and spoon
His songs ain’t much because they’re Dutch
You bet I’ll stop them soon
I told him once, you German dunce
You better change your tune

Chorus
For you will
Have to sing an Irish song
If you want to marry me
Faith, I think the Wearing of the Green
Is the sweetest melody
Now that “Wacht am Rhein”
It may sound fine
But goodness only knows
Sure you wouldn’t live long
If you would sing that song
Where the little shamrock grows

  1. I could learn to love him, I’ll admit
    But his language sounds so very queer
    To tell the truth, I don’t think that it’s fit
    For a decent girl to hear
    Still every time I think I’ll answer yes
    Then he starts to serenade again
    “Ich liebe dich” that makes me sick
    Then he tries to explain
    But I say quick, “Du bist verruckt”
    Your coaxings all in vain

Sung here by Vancha March: