GET AWAY, OLD MAN, GET AWAY
(Frank Crumit)

Vernon Dalhart


Now listen all you maidens about to choose a man
Don’t take one who is ancient, get a young one if you can
‘cos if you marry an old man, now list to what I say,
You’re sure to meet a young man who’ll steal your heart away
For an old man he is old, for an old man he is grey,
But a young man’s heart is full of love
Get away, old man, get away.

Be sure to get a young man with red and rosy cheeks
Don’t get a man with a cane in his hand whose back is very weak
I’d rather marry a young man with pockets lined with silk
Than to marry an old man with a hundred cows to milk

For an old man he is old, for an old man he is grey,
But a young man’s heart is full of love
Get away, old man, get away.

I’d sooner marry a young man with an apple in his hand
Than to marry an old man with a hundred acres o’ land
Don’t ever marry an old man and here’s the reason why
His lips are all tobacco juice, and his lips are never dry

For an old man he is old, for an old man he is grey,
But a young man’s heart is full of love
Get away, old man, get away.

Don’t ever marry an old man who’s got the rheumatiz
You’ll have to rub his creaking joins, if that ain’t work, what is.
Don’t ever marry an old man, ‘cos when the weather’s cold
A nice warm place to put your feet is better far than gold.

For an old man he is old, for an old man he is grey,
But a young man’s heart is full of love
Get away, old man, get away.

Get away, get away, get away
Get away, get away, get away
Shoo fly, don’t bother me
Shoo fly, don’t bother me
Get away old man get away.



(Transcribed by Bill Huntley - November 2004)