Baby’s got a tooth (Rollin Howard)

AKA
First Published 1875
Writer/composer Rollin Howard Roud RNtbc

Music Hall Performers Rollin Howard
Folk performances Collected from the singing of:

Modern performances

 

Baby's Got a Tooth!
COMIC SONG FOR LADY OR GENTLEMAN
WORDS and MUSIC by Rollin Howard.

Well there, I'm so delighted,
I don't know what to do, 
I feel so awful proud, boys,
Now tell me wouldn't you? 
When married but a twelvemonth,
Yes, to my heart-felt joy, 
Our union it was blest —
With a bouncing little boy.

Spoken: I was delighted at hearing one day:

Da-da! (Ma-ma!) come see! well I declare !
Baby's got a tooth, did you ever! well there!
Tra-la! I'll strike you, pray share my joy¬
What is more delightful than a first tooth in one's boy?

Yes I was sitting smoking (sewing)
Was reading "Tweed" had gone;
Wondered if he'd met Genet,
If Connor felt forlorn
When to my great surprise a shout 
Rang shrilly in my ear – 
Our baby's got a tooth da-da! (ma-ma!), 
Come kiss the little dear

Spoken: Who could resist it? Kiss it! Of course I did, over and over again! Nurse says it's the picture of its dada (mama) of course it is! Well, it's no use talking, all I can think of is: 
Chorus

Now may be you will not believe 
How happy I did feel,
That day I (dear) lost some thousands, 
But then I didn't squeal;
My mind was occupied that day 
With only one idea— 
"Twas Baby's got a tooth, oh! joy 
The precious little dear!"

Spoken: It's true I had to walk the door with it half the night, and heat the Paregoric over the gas, and nearly froze; but then imagine a father's (mother's) joy as he (she) thought of....    
Chorus.

I'd let it bite my finger,
And then 'twould chew my thumb; 
It seemed to please it, really
With joy I was quite dumb.
The day 'twits born, I felt o glad-
"Twas nothing unto this!
Our Baby's got a tooth, I know,
Excuse a father's (mother's) bliss.

Spoken why, really I had to avoid all my intimate acquaintances that day; for I felt so happy that I'd have given my last cent away, I actually believe. Why Arminta Flapjack came in with tears in her eyes and said: "have you heard the news?" "Why, of course! our baby's get a tooth." "Oh no!" she cried, with an additional burst of grief,"My mother is dead!" Well then, you can imagine my ecstasy, when I could not see her grief without being told. I said "My dear, I sympathize with your grief, but I'm so overjoyed,: for, this morning dada (mama) said ...
Chorus.

S493393, B316357

At least two different songs called Baby’s got a Tooth were circulating in the last quarter of the 19th century.This song,with its first line: Well there, I’m so delighted, is credited to US burlesque artist Rollin Howard and was published in New York in 1875. Both the lyrics and tune published in the sheet music are quite different from the song Baby’s got a Tooth, usually credited to EH Jones, that is discussed on another page, here.

In addition to the Blume Sheet music Howard’s song was also published in the following American song books (the lyrics in each case are identical):

  • c1876, Henry de Marsans Singers Journal No 124, p189
  • c1876, Jeremy Jollyboy : songster
  • c1878, Beadle’s Half Dime Singer’s Library, no. 10

Rollin Howard (c1840- 1879) was the stage name of Ebenezer GB Holder, a white American performer who spent five years of his professional life as a legitimate actor before becoming a blackface minstrel in 1860, appearing with several American minstrel companies throughout the 1860s. He left minstrelsy for the variety stage in 1870, briefly becoming a theatre manager before his death in 1879. During his time as a minstrel he specialised in female impersonation. He was also credited as a songwriter and musical arranger of a number of well-known minstrel songs.

Sources: