Ten minutes too late

From Hopwood and Crew Sheet Music 
Composed and sung with great success by Harry Clifton.


Certain fidgety folks we have, all of us met
Who are famous for being "too soon"
For a two o'clock DEJEUNER A LA FOURCHETTE 
They are safe to turn up about noon.
Punctuality is all very proper, I know
But all hurry and worry I hate,
For it always occurs that wherever I go
I'm exactly ten minutes too late

Punctuality is all very proper, I know
But all hurry and worry I hate,
For it always occurs that wherever I go
I'm exactly ten minutes too late

When I jump in a Hansom or climb on a Bus
To be nicely in time for a train
Well I'm half in a fever and quite in a fuss
Tho' I feel that my efforts are vain.
For when I find myself safe at the station at last
And believe it five minutes to eight
I observe with a sigh that it's five minutes PAST
So I'm only ten minutes too late.

I was once on a time very deeply in love
And I courted in verse and in prose.
I obtained a big lock of her hair- and a glove;
So I made up my mind to propose.
But a cab drove away as I knocked on her door
And her answer decided my fate,
For my rival had called their a little before,
So that I was ten minutes too late.

I should sing for a month if I told in a song
The misfortunes I have to endure,
For this habit that's haunted me all my life long
And will haunt me till death, I am sure.
When this fitful career is approaching its end
And I lie in a critical state,
Its no matter what physics my doctor may send
I shall take them them TEN MINUTES TOO LATE!

DEJUNER A LA FOURCHETTE = a light lunch (literally: lunch with a fork)