SISTER SUSIE'S SEWING SHIRTS FOR SOLDIERS
(Herman E Darewski (m) R P Weston (l) 1914)

as recorded by Billy Murray
1914


Sister Susie's sewing in the kitchen on a Singer,
There's miles and miles of flannel on the floor and up the stairs.
And father says it's rotten
Getting mixed up with the cotton,
And sitting on the needled that she leaves upon the chairs!
And should you knock at our street door, ma whispers "Come inside!",
Then when you ask where Susie is, she says with loving pride,

"Sister Susie's sewing shirts for soldiers,
Such skill at sewing shirts our shy young sister Susie shows!
Some soldiers send epistles,
Say they'd sooner sleep in thistles
Than the saucy soft short shirts for soldiers sister Susie shows!".

I forgot to tell you that our sister Susie's married,
And when she isn't sewing shirts she's sewing other things.
Then little sister Molly
Says "Oh sister's bought a dolly,
she;s making all the clothes for it with pretty bows and strings".
Says Susie, "Don't be silly!", as she blushes and she sighs,
Then mother smiles and whispers with a twinkle in her eyes,

"Sister Susie's sewing shirts for soldiers,
Such skill at sewing shirts our shy young sister Susie shows!
Some soldiers send epistles,
Say they'd sooner sleep in thistles
Than the saucy soft short shirts for soldiers sister Susie shows!".

[spoken]
Ha-ha, well I'm glad that's off my chest!
Now I'd like to have everybody join in the chorus!
It isn't as hard as it sounds, not nearly as hard as
"Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers",
or "She sells sea shells by the sea shore",
but you must be sober before you try it!
Come now, all together!

[sung]
Sister Susie's sewing shirts for soldiers,
Such skill at sewing shirts our shy young sister Susie shows!
Some soldiers send epistles,
Say they'd sooner sleep in thistles
Than the saucy soft short shirts for soldiers sister Susie shows!



(Transcribed by Peter Akers - December 2014)