I USED TO BE AFRAID TO GO HOME IN THE DARK
>From the Broadway Musical "Miss Innocence" (1908)
(Egbert Van Alstyne / Harry Williams / Benjamin Hapgood Burt)


Charles A. Bigelow (Broadway Production) - 1908
Billy Murray - 1908



 

Up against the bar Joe Morgan stood
Leaning on a scotch highball
Said the keeper, why don’t you be good
Aren’t you ever home at all
All your other pals have passed away
Every one has gone to bed
While you’re celebrating, wifey dear is waiting
Then Joe Morgan said
You have handed me some facts
She is waiting with an axe…

I used to be afraid to go home in the dark
Now I’m afraid to go at all
I used to tell my wife I was robbed in the park
When my bankroll looked small
But your old Y.M.C.A.F.E
Was the cause of my downfall
I used to be afraid to go home in the dark
Now I’m afraid to go at all 

There was once a time when wifey dear
Never thought I told her lies
But that awful darn song of last year
Was the thing that put her wise 
I have given every known excuse
When I’m out at night you see
But I get a calling, with the speech appalling
That won’t go with me
So I stay downtown tonight
For she’s never lost a fight 

I used to be afraid to go home in the dark
Now I’m afraid to go at all.
I used to tell my wife I was robbed in a park
When my bankroll looked small
But your old Y.M.C.A.F.E
Was the cause of my downfall
I used to be afraid to go home in the dark
Now I’m afraid to go at all


(Transcribed by David Storey - December 2013)


********************


Alternate recording by BILLY MURRAY:

Up against the bar Joe Morgan stood
Leaning on a scotch highball
Said the keeper, "Why don’t you be good?
Aren’t you ever home at all?
All your other pals have passed away
Every one has gone to bed
While you’re celebrating, wifey dear is waiting"
Then Joe Morgan said
"You have handed me some facts
She is waiting with an axe"

I used to be afraid to go home in the dark
Now I’m afraid to go at all
I used to tell my wife I was robbed in the park
When my bankroll looked small
But your old Y.M.C.A.F.E
Was the cause of my downfall
I used to be afraid to go home in the dark
Now I’m afraid to go at all

Presents very often ease a smart
So I thought the other night
I went in and tried to diamond her (sic)
But the prices were not right
Then I bought a nice hatpin instead
And when I got into our flat
Ducky darling grabbed it, shouted as she nabbed it
"What girl gave you that?"
Oh, a hatpin brings bad luck
And I soon knew I was stuck

I used to be afraid to go home in the dark
Now I’m afraid to go at all.
I used to tell my wife I was robbed in a park
When my bankroll looked small
But your old Y.M.C.A.F.E
Was the cause of my downfall
I used to be afraid to go home in the dark
Now I’m afraid to go at all






(Transcribed by Mel Priddle - December 2013)