DON'T PLAY BINGO TONIGHT, MOTHER
(Al Harvey / Bert Pearl)


The Happy Gang - 1946





A little girl sat on her daddy's knee
Holding her broken doll
Her mother was fixing herself for a spree
Down at the community hall
And as that old wood fire died
She looked at her mother and cried

Don't play bingo tonight, mother
Stay home with daddy and me
Don't play bingo tonight, mother
We need your company
Poor daddy sits nightly with tears in his eyes
Just wond'ring if you will come home with first prize
Don't play bingo tonight, mother
Stay home with daddy and me

The poor father sat in his khaki suit
A corporal he was, no less (No more!)
He looked at his missus and loudly he cried
"Now, listen to reason, dear Bess
This is my last leave, you know
And tomorrow to battle I go"

So don't play bingo tonight, mother
Stay home with daughter and me
Don't play bingo tonight, mother
We need your company
My schoolgirl complexion I never will keep
'Cause you holler "Bingo!" all night in your sleep
Don't play bingo tonight, mother
Stay home with daughter and me

Then mother said, "Maybe I should stay home"
Knowing full well she should.
Then she looked at her husband and her little daughter and she cried
"I wouldn't go now if I could
At last I have heard duty's call
To heck with the game at the hall!"

I won't play bingo tonight, daughter
I'll stay with daddy and you
I won't play bingo tonight, daughter
I've something much better to do
I'll turn on the radio and stay in this room
Because it's now time for Sinatra to croon
She won't play bingo tonight, no!
She's going to stay home and swoon





(Transcribed by Mel Priddle - December 2012)