Curiosity 1909

by James Pitt-Payne, London UK - 10Apr2025
2025

Of all the dangers in this world
To guard against, you see
I think the very worst perhaps is curiosity
When I was young I foolishly
Depended on my eyes
Regarding everything, in strength
According to its size
But dad, he said, said he
"Come listen, son, to me
Don't think, because you've licked a horse
That you can lick a bee"

My curiosity
It kind of got the best of me
Straight forth I went into the field
To hunt me up a bee
I found one, Holy Gee
O but he got there first on me
"Enough!" I cried, I’ve satisfied
My curiosity

One day a circus came to town
My daddy said to me
"Come on, my boy, let's go and see
The whole menagerie"
Inside the tent I let a yell
"Look, daddy, look right there"
"That animal has got two tails
And not a bit of hair"
My father smiled at me
"No, no, my boy," said he
"That animal ain't got two tails
One is his trunk, you see"

My curiosity
It kind of got the best of me
I couldn't figure out which end
His trunk was on you see
I grabbed at one, oh gee
O how the blamed thing clung to me
"Enough!" I cried, I've satisfied
My curiosity

My brother Bill was fond of Swiss,
he ate too much one day,
and so we had to hurry
for a doctor right away.
The doctor was a homeopath
a pleasant man to meet,
said He, "I'll leave a box of pills,
you'll find them nice and sweet."
Bill smiled and looked at me,
when doc was gone said he:
"I wish he'd left a whole lot more,
they're nice as they can be."

My curiosity
it kind a got the best of me,
for right away I swiped Bill's pills
and sampled two or three.
I yelled "Come here to me"
and then I swallowed all, you see,
I nearly died but satisfied
my curiosity.

One day my wife said,
"Hubby dear, I've got to meet the train.
Just stick around and tend to things
till I get back again;
I may be gone a half an hour,
perhaps the afternoon,
if I'm not back by dark,
don't go and worry like a loon,
come kiss me, dear, said she.
I kissed her cautiously,
she closed the door and hurried
down the steps excitedly.

My curiosity
it kind a got the best of me,
I followed her and found her
in a stranger's company;
"I'm through with you," said she,
"dear Uncle John come follow me."
"Come back" I cried,
"I've satified my curiosity."

One night while I was strolling
down the street most leisurely
I overheard a woman cry,
"Help! help! he;s killing me."
A crowd began to gather
as they very often do,
said I, "I guess I'll step across
and rubber at them too."
The screams I heard again,
"Great goodness! Are you men?"
Somebody cried, "Arrest that man"
I thought awhile and then:

My curiosity
it kind a got the best of me
I crowded through and told that man
to let that woman be.
The two then pounced on me,
O I was treated shamefully,
"Enough" I cried, I've satisfied
my curiosity.

A box beside a lamppost
caught my fancy one fine day,
a man in uniform stepped up,
without a word to say,
unlocked that little iron box,
placed something to his ear,
"O'Shaughnessy," I heard him say
in accents loud and clear,
the fellow said no more;
he acted rather sore,
he turned around and walked away
but didn't shut the door:

My curiosity
it kind a got the best of me
when he was gone I stepped right up
and did the same as he.
I waited patiently and soon
a wagon called for me
I took a ride but satisfied
My curiosity

Soft karaoke
Words
piano 1
piano 2
piano 3
piano 4
lyric
pizz str bass
*
Curiosity 1909
Lyrics by Jeff T. Branen
Music by Malvin M. Franklin
© MCMIX by Will Rossiter, Chicago, Ill.
*
sequence & karaoke by James Pitt-Payne, London UK
on Thursday 10 April 2025 at 09.11
in association with Fred Feild, The Sheet Music Singer
*
James Pitt-Payne