First Published | 1892 |
Writer/composer | Lester Barrett | Roud | RNtbc |
Music Hall Performers | Lester Barrett |
Folk performances | none that i know of |
From Wehman's Collection of Songs, No. 36 p10 TWO SWEETHEARTS Copyright, 1892, by Francis, Day & Hunter. Written and Composed by Lester Barrett. I know it's not correct have two sweethearts at a time, Tho' I must candidly confess I'm guilty of the crime; But things are getting rather warm, and soon there'll be a smash, The one has lots of beauty and the other lots of cash. And I don't want the one that I don't want to know That I want the one that I want, And the one that I want she wants me to go And give up the other at once. Why I don't want the one that I don't want to know That I want the one that I want, Is, if I lose the one that I want, don't you know, I might want the one that I don't want. Matilda, with her pretty face, has got a charm for me; Jemima, 'tho she's rather old, has got the L. S. D. I must have one — I can't have both, for that would not be right, And if they find me out, why, then, I'd have them both to fight. SPOKEN — The ladies I am sure, will think me a monster; but I think the gentlemen will sympathize with me, when I tell them that — Chorus. I often think 'twould serve me right if, through my long delay, Some other fellow came and stole the darling ones away; In such a case I hardly know whatever I should do, But then, of course, I quite forgot he couldn't have the two. SPOKEN — I went to my solicitor to-day for advice. He said I ought to be horsewhipped, and satirically inquired if I would like an Act of Parliament for especial benefit; but he was still more disgusted with me when I told him that — Chorus.
This Music Hall song, written and performed by Lester Barrett, does not appear to have featured in the repertoire of traditional singers. Its included here to distinguish it from a song which did – the extremely popular American song: Two Sweethearts of mine (words: E.P. Moran, music: J. Fred Helf, 1898). The American song was famously sung by The Carter Family and appears in the repertoire of a large number of traditional singers on both sides of the Atlantic. The sentimental American song has occasionally been confused with Lester Barrett’s comic piece.
Sources:
- Kilgarrif Sing Us
- Lyrics: Wehman’s Collection of Songs, No. 36 p10
- Sheet Music for the Barrett song is held at the Bodleian Library, see Worldcat entry
- Sheet Music for Two Sweethearts of mine Levy Collection
- http://www.veteran.co.uk/VT135CD%20words.htm
- https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=19491
Last Updated on January 3, 2024 by John Baxter | Published: January 3, 2024