Matrimony Rag 1911

by James Pitt-Payne, London UK - 3 Jun 2009
2009

From California to the coast of Maine
they talk of ragtime driving folks insane,
but there is just one tune
that gets your brain
So muddled that you go upon a six month's jag.
If you are single you may hear it soon,
it's just a simplified old fashioned tune
that starts you off upon your honeymoon,
The Matrimony Rag.

It makes you tell your wife
you'll be a "boob" for life,
and that you'll hand her all your pay
then she buys silken hose,
and lots of fancy clothes
to make a big grandstand display
and while she looks so cute,
you have to wear a suit
that hangs upon you like a bag.
Then if you say you want to be a boss,
she gets an absolute divorce
and you, just like a phony,
pay her alimony
that's The Matrimony Rag.

It makes you tell your wife
you'll be a "boob" for life,
and that you'll hand her all your pay
then she buys silken hose,
and lots of fancy clothes
to make a big grandstand display
and while she looks so cute,
you have to wear a suit
that hangs upon you like a bag.
Then if you say you want to be a boss,
she gets an absolute divorce
and you, just like a phony,
pay her alimony
that's The Matrimony Rag.

You hear her say: "Now, dear,
after we're wed,
I'll do the housework!"
But you find instead
you have to bring her breakfast up to bed,
And then you have to wash the dishes
or she'll nag.
Then with her mother comes
to get your goat,
you get so mad
you want to cut the throat
of Mister Mendelssohn
the man who wrote
The Matrimonial Rag.

It makes you tell your wife
you'll be a "boob" for life,
and that you'll hand her all your pay
then she buys silken hose,
and lots of fancy clothes
to make a big grandstand display
and while she looks so cute,
you have to wear a suit
that hangs upon you like a bag.
Then if you say you want to be a boss,
she gets an absolute divorce
and you, just like a phony,
pay her alimony
that's The Matrimony Rag.

It makes you tell your wife
you'll be a "boob" for life,
and that you'll hand her all your pay
then she buys silken hose,
and lots of fancy clothes
to make a big grandstand display
and while she looks so cute,
you have to wear a suit
that hangs upon you like a bag.
Then if you say you want to be a boss,
she gets an absolute divorce
and you, just like a phony,
pay her alimony
that's The Matrimony Rag.

Soft karaoke
Words
piano 1
piano 2
piano 3
piano 4
lyric
pizz str bass
*
Matrimony Rag 1911
Music by Lewis Muir
Lyrics by Edgar Leslie
© 1911 by F.A.Mills - New York
*
sequence & karaoke by James Pitt-Payne, London UK
on Wednesday 3 June 2009 at 10.00
in association with Veda Meyer-Castens
*