LEAVE THE PURTY GIRLS ALONE
(aka LEAVE THE PRETTY GIRLS ALONE)
(Carson Robison)

Carson Robison & His Pioneers - 1932
Henry Hall & His Orch. (vocal: Len Berman) - 1932
Lew Stone & His Orch. (vocal: Joe Crossman) - 1932
Billy Cotton & His Band - 1932


Met a little girl in London
Curly hair and eyes of blue.
Just listen while I tell my story
Show you what a girl can do.

She wanted me to spend my money
To buy a pretty diamond stone.
I put it on her hand on Sunday
Monday morning she was gone.

Then I met a girl in Soho,
Thought that she was on the square.
Don’t know where she went from Soho
But anyhow I paid the fare.

I thought she was a shy young maiden
Because her cheeks were always red
But when I went to find my wallet
I found that I was shy instead.

Then I thought I’d learnt my lesson,
Thought that girls and I were through.
Till I met a pretty maiden,
Said she’d always love me true.

Said she didn’t want my money,
But then she took it just the same
Because she saw that we got married
And now I am a married man.

I used to be a carefree traveller,
Used to be a regular sheik.
Now I have to take my wages
Turn them over every week.

Oh! Don’t forget the things I tell you
A woman’s heart is made of stone.
You’d better listen to my warning,
Leave the pruty girls alone.


(Transcribed from CD by Bill Huntley - October 2004)


*****


The version recorded by Henry Hall and Len Berman (as
transcribed above), changed many of Carson Robison's
original lyrics to suit a British audience. As can be
evidenced by the lyrics as first recorded by Robison:


Met a little gal in London
Pretty hair and eyes of blue
Listen while I tell my story
Show you what a gal will do
She told me go and spend my money
To buy a purty di'mond stone
I put it on her hand on Sunday
And Monday morning she was gone

Then I met a gal in Memphis
Thought she was on the square
Don't know where she went from Memphis
But anyhow I paid the fare
I thought she was a shy young maiden
Because her cheeks were always red
But when I went to find my bank-roll
I found that I was shy instead

Then I met a Spanish maiden
And Oh! I thought she loved me so
She didn't speak the English language
The only word she said was "dough"
I can't forget that senorita
A playin' on her castinets
She nearly put me in the poor-house
I wore my socks till they were spats

Then I went to Honolulu
Just to see what I could see
Saw the Hula girls a-shakin'
On the beach at Waikiki
I never can foget them maidens
Gee! but they were nice and brown
I learned a lot about their shakin'
When they went and shook me down

There I thought I learned my lesson
Thought the gals and I were through
Till I met a red-head mama
Who said she'd always love me true
Said she didn't want my money
But she got it just the same
'Cause I took her to the preacher
Got myself a ball and chain

I used to be a carefree trav'ler
Used to be a regular sheik
Now I have to take my pay check
And turn it over ev'ry week
Oh! don't forget the things I tell you
A woman's heart is made of stone
But listen to my warnin'
Leave the purty girls alone