POPSY WOPSY!
(Bennett Scott (m) A J Mills (l) 1913)




Popsy was a singer in a West End revue,
Sang the sort of ditties that the people all knew;
Ev'ry night, they used to turn the limelight strong
On someone's face, while she sang her song.
That would set the fellow blinking, just like an owl,
But if she threw him a kiss,
He would chuckle with glee,
"I'll bet she fancies me!",
Then he'd murmur something like this.

"Sing to me, my little Popsy Wopsy,
Turn the limelight right on me.
(Oh! you Popsy Wopsy!)
When on that stage you come,
My little heart beats, just like a drum.
Tiddleyum, tiddleyum!
I shall dream about you, all night tonight,
You're the sweetest kid I've seen;
I would kiss you, my Popsy,
But there's one thing stops me,
Those footlights inbetween!"

Popsy fixed her eye on an old boy one night,
Sitting in the front stalls, with his dear wife, all right.
When she sang that loving song, he look'd so blue;
His wife, quite shock'd, glar'd at Popsy, too.
That same ev'ning, to the stage door, he sent a note,
Which read, "Oh! Popsy, my own, 
Do excuse me, my dear,
I've got my missus here;
Tomorrow night I'll come alone".

"Sing to me, my little Popsy Wopsy,
Turn the limelight right on me.
(Oh! you Popsy Wopsy!)
When on that stage you come,
My little heart beats, just like a drum.
Tiddleyum, tiddleyum!
I shall dream about you, all night tonight,
You're the sweetest kid I've seen;
I would kiss you, my Popsy,
But there's one thing stops me,
Those footlights inbetween!"

Popsy has one song that's always certain to score,
Where she asks a boy to meet her at the stage door;
Johnnies take the tip and when she leaves the show,
The "nuts" hang round, just to watch her go.
Popsy's quite a fav'rite with the gallery boys;
Often when she comes on view,
Some coster will shout;
"I'd like to take yer out!
Lor lumme! I loves yer, I do!".

"Sing to me, my little Popsy Wopsy,
Turn the limelight right on me.
(Oh! you Popsy Wopsy!)
When on that stage you come,
My little heart beats, just like a drum.
Tiddleyum, tiddleyum!
I shall dream about you, all night tonight,
You're the sweetest kid I've seen;
I would kiss you, my Popsy,
But there's one thing stops me,
Those footlights inbetween!"




(Contributed by Peter Akers - January 2016)