YOU DIDN'T WANT ME WHEN YOU HAD ME (SO WHY DO YOU WANT ME NOW)
(Music: George J. Bennett / Lyrics: Benée Russell & Bernie Grossman)

Rudy Willing & Gus Hill's Minstrels - 1919
Henry Burr - 1919
The Mills Brothers - 1954



Why do you try to waken memory
Why talk about the days that used to be
You say you love me, but you know that's not true
I can't forget the tears I shed over you

I told you once that there would come a day
You'd want the love that you threw away
I'll tell you just the same as you told me
There's lots of fish down in the sea

You didn't want me when you had me
So why do you want me now
You fooled around till you found
I was yours from the start
Then like a child with a toy
You just played with my heart

You never meant the things you told me
You couldn't be true somehow
You have heard the story of the moth and the flame
What a fool I'd be to play with fire again

You didn't want me when you had me
So why do you want me now

Though there's a fire still down in my heart
Why should you try to give that flame a start
You keep it burning till you seem to forget
And then I put it out with tears of regret

Each smile and kiss you always gave to me
You knew you'd leave as a memory
Why should you ask me for a love that's true
That never meant a thing to you

You didn't want me when you had me
So why do you want me now
You fooled around till you found
I was yours from the start
Then like a child with a toy
You just played with my heart

You never meant the things you told me
You couldn't be true somehow
You have heard the story of the moth and the flame
What a fool I'd be to play with fire again

You didn't want me when you had me
So why do you want me now


(Transcribed by Mel Priddle - November 2013)