I TOLD MY BABY WITH THE UKELELE
(Hargreaves)

as recorded by George Formby
October 14th 1932


Now I had a sweetie once upon a time,
Well, she was my ideal!
And when she was near
I used to feel,
Well, you know how you feel!
But I was shy and couldn't tell my love,
When I did my knees all shook,
So I thought I would say it with music
And I bought myself a uke'.
I learnt this sloppy tune,
Then one night underneath the Wigan moon;

I told my baby with the ukelele,
I sung a song of Araby, 
I told my baby with the ukelele,
But she only laughed at me!
I played it soft and sad,
She didn't care a bit,
And then I got so mad
I swore I'd make a hit!
So I told my baby with the ukelele,
I bashed her with it over the head!
But oh, she was a pal,
I only wish you could have seen that gal!

Her hair was brunette type,
It had pretty wrinkles like you see in tripe!
She's going to have it bobbed this spring,
Now where will the sparrows nest, poor thing?

Her face, it is so bright,
You can't see a blemish on a foggy night!
And when she smiles on her own accord,
Her face lights up because she's lantern jawed!

Her teeth, they are divine,
All the colours in the rainbow there you'll find!
Black, blue, green and red you bet,
She only wants a white'n for a snooker set!

Her neck, I love it so,
I bought her a present about a week ago.
Two little gifts she'll use, I hope,
I bought her a sponge and a bar of soap!

When I went to meet my little maid,
I'll let you hear the serenade I played.

So I told my baby with the ukelele,
I sung a song of Araby, 
I told my baby with the ukelele,
But she only laughed at me!
I played it soft and sad,
She didn't care a bit,
And then I got so mad
I swore I'd make a hit!
So I told my baby with the ukelele,
I bashed her with it over the head!
But oh, she was a pal,
I only wish you could have seen that gal!




(Transcribed by Peter Akers - September 2017)