COVER IT OVER QUICK, JEMIMA
(Charles Collins / E A Shepherd 1911)

as recorded by Harry Champion
1911


Now we had a chicken yesterday for dinner, yes we did,
And talk about a strong'n, why it raised the saucepan lid!
It popped its head up when the missus went to give a stir,
It tried to sing "The Anchor's Weighed", and so I said to her -

Cover it over quick Jemima, cover it over quick!
Get the fork and hold 'im tight,
Mind your fingers, he wants to bite!
Oh the smell, it's getting strong and thick,
Just give it a tap on the xxxx?
And cover it over quick!

Now my Jemima's got a lovely wart upon her back,
To show it off in evening dress she seems to have a knack!
I took her out to dine one day, and in the hall I saw
Her low-necked bodice showed the wart, then I commenced to roar -

Cover it over quick Jemima, cover it over quick!
Then with your back up against the wall,
Fancy showing it in the 'all!
That young man there with the coat and stick
Is coming to hang up his hat on your wart,
So cover it over quick!

Jemima and myself went out to buy the Sunday grub,
We thought we'd like a gargle, so we popped into a pub.
A chap he sat beside of us, he did upon me life,
I pointed to the market bag, then shouted to the wife -

Cover it over quick Jemima, cover it over quick!
Hide the taters and the beans,
I can tumble to what he means!
Can't you see we shall lose it in a tick?
He's havin' to look at your xxxxx? pork,
So cover it over quick!

While workin' on a scaffold once, I tore me corduroys,
Soon I was surrounded by a crowd of girls and boys.
The missus brough me dinner, nearly had a fit because
I shouted as I showed 'er what a nasty tear it was -

Cover it over quick Jemima, cover it over quick!
Put me dinner upon the ground
While you're making me trousers sound!
I'll catch cold if you're more than half a tick,
The dogs will be after me xxxx?,
Then cover it over quick!

Cover it over quick Jemima, cover it over quick!
Put me dinner upon the ground
While you're making me trousers sound!
I'll catch cold if you're more than half a tick,
The dogs will be after me xxxx?,
Then cover it over quick!




(Transcribed by Peter Akers - August 2017)