The greatest laughing success in years, 1896.
Words by Harry Braisted.
Music by Stanley Carter.
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:
Lyrics
- When you see a pretty maiden
Who has just turned seventeen
You think you’d like to win her for your wife
Don’t start the game by saying
She’s the sweetest thing you’ve seen
A young girl’s heart’s the strangest thing in life
Do not let her think that you are sure
To offer her your hand
She’ll like you better if you’re out of reach
No matter how you love her
Give the girl to understand
She’s not the only pebble on the beach
Chorus
She’s not the only pebble on the beach
That is the sort of lesson you must teach
If you want to win her hand
Let the maiden understand
That she’s not the only pebble on the beach
- While on board a crowded horse car
On a warm and sultry day
I saw a maiden overcome with heat
She stood there fifteen minutes
While a man not far away
Was occupying twice his share of seat
As she gazed at him, with injured look
She said, in accents low
“Look here, my man, a moral I will teach
Though you have paid your nickel
There are others, don’t you know
You’re not the only pebble on the beach”
Chorus
“You’re not the only pebble on the beach
For there are others,” said the little peach
“You don’t own the car, you know
Give a little girl a show
You are not the only pebble on the beach”
- I live opposite a maiden
And I know her steady beau
He tells me that she loves no one but him
He buys her all her dresses
And her jewels, don’t you know
In fact he gratifies her every whim
He is sure to call on Sunday
Through the week he’s on the road
I really think he loves the little peach
If he could see the rush on
Monday nights I think he’d know
He’s not the only pebble on the beach
Chorus
He’s not the only pebble on the beach
She has a hundred more within her reach
It’s because he has the “dough”
That she says she loves him so
But he’s not the only pebble on the beach
- I was listening to a talk
Between two men, the other day
The conversation ran on married life
And I was interested as I heard one of them say
He thought that every man should have a wife
For he said, “My friend, I’m married,
And I’m happy as can be
But don’t let it go farther, I beseech
I haven’t seen my darling wife
In years ‘twixt you and me
And there are others like me on the beach
Chorus
There are a lot of others on the beach
And you can take advice from what I preach
When on married life you start
Take a “tip” and live apart
There are lots of other pebbles on the beach
Sung here by Fred Feild: