I'M SHY, MARY ELLEN, I'M SHY
(Charles Ridgewell / George A. Stevens)

Jack Pleasants - 1910
David Kossoff (& the Mike Sammes Singers) - 1960
Bob Wallis & His Storeyville Jazzmen - 1961
Russ Conway - 1965

Stanley Holloway; Frankie Vaughan; Charlie Kunz; Ian Whitcomb;
Bill Rayner Four; Cliff Adams Singers; Reg Dixon ...... and others.



I courted Mary Ellen
For fourteen solid years,
But she made me blush when she
One night boldly said to me,
"You've never kiss'd me once, John,
Tho' I'd like you to", she sighed;
"Why don't you call me pretty names?".
I hung my head and cried,

"I'm shy Mary Ellen, I'm shy,
It does seem so naughty, oh, my!
Kissing is nicey, I've often heard say,
But still how to do it I don't know the way.
So you put your arm round my waist,
I promise I won't scream or cry,
So you do the kissing and cuddling instead,
'Cos I'm shy, Mary Ellen, I'm shy".

Last year with Mary Ellen
To Lowestoft I went,
Mary Ellen said to me,
"I'm going bathing in the sea.
So while I go and have a splash
Where all the ladies go,
You go and have a bathe amongst the men".
I said, No, no!".

"I'm shy Mary Ellen, I'm shy,
It does seem so naughty, oh, my!
Men are so rough and I'm sure they will stare,
They'll splash me, and duck me, if I go in there.
The girls ain't so rough as the men,
They wouldn't duck me, or try,
So I'd rather bathe here along with the girls,
'Cos I'm shy, Mary Ellen, I'm shy".

While out with Mary Ellen
We met a six foot man,
"That's the saucy scamp" said she,
Who last week insulted me.
Now just you thrash the massive brute".
I looked at his six feet,
She said, "Take your coat off,
But I said, "What, in the street?".

"I'm shy Mary Ellen, I'm shy,
It would look so naughty, oh, my!
I said as I looked at that great hunking chap,
If it wasn't for one thing I'd give him a slap.
But look at the ladies about
They'd all stop to look and, and oh, my!
If I take my coat off they'll see all my shirt,
And I'm shy, Mary Ellen, I'm shy".

To marry Mary Ellen
I went to church one morn,
While the party with the bride
Went to church, I stood outside.
For quite an hour I stood there while
She waited to be wed.
Then she came out and said, "Come on",
"I don't like to", I said.

"I'm shy Mary Ellen, I'm shy,
It does seem so naughty, oh, my!
But still we got married and got home alright,
And kept up the fun with our friends until night.
Then they wish'd Mary Ellen goodbye,
And they started to go, so did I!
Then she said, "You're not going!", I said yes I am,
'Cos I'm shy, Mary Ellen, I'm shy".



(Contributed by Peter Akers - January 2016)