NO! NO! A THOUSAND TIMES NO!
(Al Sherman / Al Lewis / Abner Silver)
Harry McDaniel & His Orch. - 1934
Ambrose & His Orch. (vocal: Elsie Carlisle & Sam Browne) - 1934
New Mayfair Dance Orch. (vocal: Bobbie Combier) - 1934
John Ralfini & His Band (vocal: Phyllis Robins & Pat O'Malley) - 1935
Leslie Sarony & Girl Friend - 1935
Mae Questel (feat. in the Betty Boop cartoon "No! No! A Thousand Times No!!") - 1935
Mrs. Mills & Vocal Chorus - 1970
Beatrice Kay - 1973
She was a child of the valley
An innocent maiden was she
He was a desperate Desmond
Who owned all the town property
He would pursue her through hills and through dells
But she was wise to his game
Each time he threatened, "You'll wed me or else"
These were the words she'd exclaim....
"No! No! A thousand times no!
You cannot buy my caress!
No! No! A thousand times no!
I'd rather die than say yes"
Ah, but this poisonous villain
He wouldn't leave her alone
He said, "Either join me in wedlock
Or I'll kick you out of your home"
She knew her people so feeble and old
Needed a roof o'er their heads
Winter would soon bring the snow and the cold
Yet she defied him and said....
"No! No! A thousand times no!
You cannot buy my caress!
No! No! A thousand times no!
I'd rather die than say yes"
That night he crept up to her window
And oh, how that villain could creep
He stole her out of her boudoir
And kidnapped her while fast asleep
He tied the gal to the old railroad track
The milk train was rushing down the hill
She cried to him, "Though my future looks black
You buzzard, my answer is still....
"No! No! A thousand times no!
You cannot buy my caress!
No! No! A thousand times no!
I'd rather die than say yes"
Now she loved the young village blacksmith
A muscular "he-man" was he
He heard that his love was in danger
And right to the rescue flew he
He grabbed his darling in "thee" nick of time
And yelled, "This is my future wife!"
The villain sneered, "Blacksmith, that maiden is mine!"
The hero cried, "Not on your life!"....
"No! No! A thousand times no!
You cannot buy her caress!
No! No! A thousand times no!
She'd rather die than say yes"
Now this is the end of our story
Her honour was left without stain
The hero took her to the altar
The villain was foiled once again
The mortgage was paid and the handsome young swain
Moved in with her folks right away
Their life is contented though simple and plain
And no more will she have to say....
"No! No! A thousand times no!
You cannot buy my caress!
No! No! A thousand times no!
I'd rather die than say yes"
********************
As recorded by ELSIE CARLISLE & SAM BROWNE with Ambrose & His Orch:
EC: I am a child of the valley
An innocent maiden, you see
SB: And I am a desperate Desmond
I own all the town property
EC: Though you pursue me through hill and through dell
You know I'm wise to your game
SB: Now listen, me girl, you will wed me or else
EC: No, never, for think of the shame
No! No! A thousand times no!
I'd rather die than say yes
EC: You are a poisonous villain
Why don't you leave me alone
SB: Either join me in wedlock
Or else I'll kick you out of your home
EC: Ooh, you know my people are feeble and old
And they need a roof o'er their head
SB: Ah, Winter will soon bring the cold and the snow
EC: But I'll defy you till I'm dead
No! No! A thousand times no!
I'd rather die than say yes
SB: At night I'll creep up to your window
EC: Umm, and I know how you can creep
SB: And I'll steal you out of your boudoir
And kidnap you while fast asleep
I'll tie you down to the old railroad track
When the milk train is rushing downhill
EC: I know, you villain, my future looks black
You buzzard, my answer is still
No! No! A thousand times no!
I'd rather die than say yes
EC: I love the young village blacksmith
A muscular he-man is he
If he knew his love was in danger
Right to the rescue he'd be
SB: Here I am, darling in the nick of time
To take you and make you my wife
(But I warn you, blacksmith, this maiden is mine)
Away with you, not on your life
No! No! A thousand times no!
I'd rather she die than say yes
EC: This is the end of my story
My honour is left without stain
SB: I'll take you straight to the altar
The villain we'll foil once again (Curse you!)
I'll pay the mortgage for you my sweetheart
And we'll live with your folks right away
EC: And I'll be contented, though simple and plain
And no more will I have to say
No! No! A thousand times no!
I'd rather die than say yes!
(Transcribed by Mel Priddle - October 2018)
