JOSHUA
(George Arturs / Bert Lee)

as recorded by Clarice Mayne
1912


Joshua courted Miss May;
To be correct I should say
She courted him for he was so shy,
Dare not say "boo!", although no one knew why!
They walked out for months and for months,
But he never asked her to wed.
They'd sit hand in hand where the soft shadows fall,
He'd sit there for hours and say nothing at all!
So one night May blushingly said,

Josh-u-ah, Josh-u-ah,
Why don't you call and see mama?
She'll be pleased to know
You are my best beau.
Josh-u-ah, Josh-u-ah,
Nicer than lemon squash you are,
Yes by gosh you are,
Josh-u-osh-u-ah!

Joshua said he would call,
But never meant to at all!
You see, he'd never met May's loving mama,
But he'd heard something of what mamas are!
Each night he saw May to her gate,
But never would venture inside;
He'd give her a kiss and he'd wish her goodnight,
Then quicker than thought he would vanish from sight,
Whenever May lovingly cried,

Josh-u-ah, Josh-u-ah,
Why don't you call and see mama?
She'll be pleased to know
You are my best beau.
Josh-u-ah, Josh-u-ah,
Nicer than lemon squash you are,
Yes by gosh you are,
Joshyotty-otty-otty-otty, otty-ott-u-ah!

Josh-u-ah, Josh-u-ah,
Why don't you call and see mama?
She'll be pleased to know
You are my best beau.
Josh-u-ah, Josh-u-ah,
Nicer than lemon squash you are,
Yes by gosh you are,
Josh-u-osh-u-ah!



(Transcribed by Peter Akers - August 2015)