SHE HAD TO GO AND LOSE IT AT THE ASTOR
(Don Ray / Hugh Prince)

Johnny Messner & His Orch. (vocal: Messner) - 1939
Harry Roy & His Orch. (vocals: Bill Currie & Harry Roy) - 1939
Pearl Bailey - 1959
The Fouir Sergeants - 1967
Mrs.Miller - 1971
Peter Skellern - 1974
Also recorded by: Eddie Miller; Larry Vincent;
Florence Desmond; Dick Robertson; The McCalmans.


SPOKEN: We'd like to tell you a story about a young girl, about
eighteen years old, about five feet two, and about to go out. Now,
her Mother, realising it was her first time out with a young man,
called her into the bedroom and said, "Minnie, you're all dressed
up in your finery, your very best clothes, and you look beautiful,
you're gorgeous, you're alluring (you look swell, baby), and now
Minnie I want you to remember everything I've always told you, and
above all I want you to be very, very careful.....

But she had to go and lose it at the Astor
She didn't take her mother's good advice.
Now there aren't so many girls today who have one
And she'd never let it go for any price

They searched the place from penthouse to the cellar
In every room and underneath each bed.
Once they thought they saw it lying on a pillow
But they found it belonged to someone else instead.

But she had to go and lose it at the Astor,
She didn't know exactly whom to blame
And she couldn't say just how or when she lost it
She only knew she had it when she came.

They questioned all the bellboys and the porter
The chef appeared to be the guilty guy
And the doorman also acted quite suspicious
But he coyly said, "I'm sure it wasn't I"

But she had to go and lose it at the Astor
It nearly killed her mother and her dad
Now they felt as bad about the thing as she did
After all it was the only one she had

They just about completed all their searching
When the chauffeur walked up with it in his hand
All they did was stand and gape, there was Minnie's sable cape,
And she thought that she had lost it at the Astor.


*****


Variation as recorded by The McCalmans:

The balmy sunset breeze
Brushed the young girl's innocent face
As she shyly bid her parents fond farewell
Her darling mother's tender voice
Whispered anxious last advice
Of the beastly world outside
To her did tell............

But she had to go and lose it at the Astor
She didn't take her mother's good advice
Now there aren't so many girls today who have one
And she'd never let it go for any price
They searched the place from penthouse to the cellar
In every room and underneath each bed
Once they thought they saw it lying on a pillow
But they found it belonged to someone else instead

But she had to go and lose it at the Astor
She didn't know exactly who to blame
And she couldn't say just how or when she lost it
She only knew she had it when she came
They questioned all the bellboys and the porter
The chef appeared to be the guilty guy
And the doorman also acted quite suspicious
But he coyly said, I'm sure it wasn't I

But she had to go and lose it at the Astor
It nearly killed her mother and her dad
Now they felt as bad about the thing as she did
After all it was the only one she had
They just about completed all their searching
When the chauffeur walked up with it in his hand
All they did was stand and gape
There was Millie's sable cape
That's a helluva word for ..........at the Astor


*****


(Contributed by Bill Huntley - October 2004)