EE-BY-GUM
(Butler / Flynn)

Tommy Handley - 1928

Also recorded by: Gracie Fields



The Yankee says 'Gee whiz'
The Scotsman says 'Och aye'
The Welshman says "Indeed to goodness'
Goodness knows just why

In Lancashire and Yorkshire
Ever since the world began
This is the expression
Of a strong a silent man

'Ee-By-Gum', 'Ee-By-Gum'
The only thing he ever says is 'Ee-By-Gum'

He says it when he's happy
And he says it when he's glum
He means an awful lot 
When he says 'Ee-By-Gum'

He hears it in the cradle
Before he cuts a tooth
He learns it as a baby
And he says it as a youth

And when he goes a-courting
And the girl says, "Yum-yum-yum"
He looks into her eyes
And whispers, "Ee-By-Gum"

The Frenchman says 'La-La'
The Irish say 'Bedad'
'Odds Bodikins' is what they said
When Cromwell was a lad

The Spaniard says 'Caramba'
The Eskimo says 'Wow'
None of them mean half as much
As what we're singin' now

'Ee-By-Gum', 'Ee-By-Gum'
The only thing he ever says is 'Ee-By-Gum'

He says it when he's happy
And he says it when he's glum
He means an awful lot 
When he says 'Ee-By-Gum'

He hears it in the cradle
Before he cuts a tooth
He learns it as a baby
And he says it as a youth

In the old Salvation Army
When he beats the big bass drum
If they sing 'Hallelujah'
He sings 'Ee-By-Gum'

'Ee-By-Gum', 'Ee-By-Gum'
The only thing he ever says is 'Ee-By-Gum'

He says it when he's happy
And he says it when he's glum
He means an awful lot 
When he says 'Ee-By-Gum'

He hears it in the cradle
Before he cuts a tooth
He learns it as a baby
And he says it as a youth

At the Isle Of Man or Blackpool
For a while he'll lose his chum
When his chum says, "Where's tha been, lad?"
He'll say 'Ee-By'Gum'


(Transcribed by Mel Priddle - July 2010)