POOR PAPA (HE'S GOT NOTHIN' AT ALL)
(Music: Harry Woods / Lyrics: Billy Rose)


Lee Morse & Her Bluegrass Boys - 16th February 1926
Ben Selvin & His Orch. - 18th February 1926
Ted Lewis & His Band (Instr.) - 19th February 1926
The Red Heads (vocal: Arthur Fields) - February 1926
Irving Aaronson & His Commanders (vocal duet: Irving Aaronson & Paul Small) - 24th March 1926
The Goofus Five (Instr.) - 12th May 1926
"Whispering" Jack Smith - July 1926
Jack Hylton & His Orch. (vocal: Chappie D'Amato) - 13th August 1926
The Hoosier Hotshots - 1940
The Sugar Shoppe - 1968







As recorded by "WHISPERING" JACK SMITH:

"Now, don't get married, don't get married", said my friend Nick Brown
If you take a wife, you're out of luck for life
He had all his little sons and daughters by his side
Like happy hooligans, sixteen kids, they all lined up and cried

Mama's got shoes, Mama's got clothes
Mama's got these and Mama's got those
But poor Papa, poor Papa, he's got nothin' at all

Mama goes here, Mama goes there
Mama goes out to every affair
But poor Papa, poor Papa, he waits out in the hall

Now, Christmas comes and Mama gets 
The most expensive frocks
Papa gets a necktie 
And a pair of ten cent socks **

Everyone cheers when Mama appears
And she's got diamonds stuck in her ears
But poor Papa, poor Papa, he's got nothin' at all

And Mama eats ham, Mama eats lamb
Mama eats bread with strawberry jam
And poor Papa, poor Papa, he eats nothin' at all

Mama says "Oh!", Mama says "Ah!"
Mama says "Boo!" and Mama says "Bah!"
But poor Papa, poor Papa, he says nothin' at all

Papa bought a limousine 
And the most expensive kind
Now he wears a chaffeur's suit, hah-hah
And Mama rides behind

Mama's got silk, satin beneath
She's got gold in all of her teeth
But poor Papa, poor Papa, he's got no teeth at all


** In the Jack Hylton/Chappie D'Amato recording, this 
line is sung as "And a pair of Woolworth socks"






(Transcribed by Mel Priddle - November 2012)