I'VE GOT TO GET BACK TO WORK
(Frank Leo 1903)

as recorded by Alf Gibson
1905


Now I'm a man with a decent job,  
Me weekly wages are thirty bob, 
I tune pianos at three and six a time. 
While I was tuning one today, 
the lady came to me, 
And said, "Come kiss me pretty one." 
and sat upon me knee. 
Said I, "M'dear, don't get the spike, 
But I would kiss you as long as you bally-well like!". 

"But I've got to get back to work, me dear, 
I've gotta get back to work." 
There she squatted upon my knee 
Till her husband come home to tea. 
He rushed up with a carving knife and said with a fearful smirk, 
"You've got to die!".  
I said, "Don't you be silly, I've gotta get back to work!".

When I got married, or shall I say 
When I got buried, it's more that way, 
I got to the chapel an hour before the time. 
What a long time the parson was when he commenced the job, 
I got me gamp and said as I just tapped him on the nob,
"You'll pardon me, I know, old man,  
But I would like you to cut it as short as you can!" 

"'Cause I've gotta get back to work, old boy, 
I've gotta get back to work." 
When he said, "You are joined for life", 
I turned round and I kissed the wife. 
She said, "Where shall we go, m'dear?", 
then gave me a saucy smirk. 
I said, "Well, you can pop off wherever you want, 
but I've gotta get back to work!".

I went to stay at a country farm, 
The life for me has a perfect charm, 
Burke, that's the farmer, he's very much cross-eyed. 
On the last day he said to me, "Before you go to town, 
I'm going to kill a pig, my boy, and you can hold it down". 
I said, "Alright, I'll lend a hand, 
But I should like you to thoroughly understand" 

"I've gotta get back to work today, 
I've gotta get back to work." 
When he picked up the knife, you see, 
His boss-eye looked direct at me! 
I said, "Who are you looking at?", "I'm looking at pig", said Burke. 
I said, "Well you let somebody else hold it, but I've gotta get back to work!".




(Transcribed by Peter Akers - December 2015)