(THERE WAS I) WAITING AT THE CHURCH
(Music: Henry E. Pether / Lyrics: Fred W. Leigh)

Vesta Victoria - 1906
Betty Grable (feat. in the film "Sweet Rosie O'Grady") - 1943
Beatrice Kay - 1950
Julie Andrews - 1962

Also recorded by: Hattie Jacques; Richard Thompson; Willie Tyler.



I'm in a nice bit of trouble, I confess
Somebody with me has had a game
I should by now be a proud and happy bride
But I've still got to keep my single name

I was proposed to by Obadiah Binks
In a very gentlemanly way
Lent him all my money so that he could buy a home
And punctually at twelve o'clock today

There was I, waiting at the church
Waiting at the church, waiting at the church
When I found he'd left me in the lurch
Lor, how it did upset me!

All at once, he sent me round a note
Here's the very note, this is what he wrote
"Can't get away to marry you today
My wife, won't let me!"

Lor, what a fuss Obadiah made of me
When he used to take me in the park
He used to squeeze me till I was black and blue
When he kissed me he used to leave a mark

Each time he met me, he treated me to port
Took me now and then to see the play
Understand me rightly, when I say he treated me
It wasn't him, but me that used to pay

There was I, waiting at the church
Waiting at the church, waiting at the church
When I found he'd left me in the lurch
Lor, how it did upset me!

All at once, he sent me round a note
Here's the very note, this is what he wrote
"Can't get away to marry you today
My wife, won't let me!"

Just think how disappointed I must feel
I'll be off me crumpet very soon
I've lost my husband, the one I never had
And I dreamed so about the honeymoon

I'm looking out for another Obadiah
I've already bought the wedding ring
There's all my little fal-the-riddles packed up in my box
Yes, absolutely two of ev'rything

There was I, waiting at the church
Waiting at the church, waiting at the church
When I found he'd left me in the lurch
Lor, how it did upset me!

All at once, he sent me round a note
Here's the very note, this is what he wrote
"Can't get away to marry you today
My wife, won't let me!"