I’m shy Mary Ellen I’m shy

AKAI’m shy Mary Ellen
First Published1910

Writer/composerGeorge A. Stevens & Charles Ridgewell RoudRN25940

Music Hall PerformersJack Pleasants
Folk performancesCollected from the singing of:
Hall, Gordon; England : Sussex; 1989
Modern performances
Frankie Vaughan, Stanley Holloway, Bob Wallis and his Storyville Jazzmen, David Kossoff
I courted Mary Ellen for fourteen solid years,
But she made me blush when she, one night boldly said to me,
”You've never kissed me once, John, though I'd like you to.” she sighed,
”Why don't you call me pretty names?” I hung my head & cried...

 
I'm shy, Mary Ellen, I'm shy,
It does seem so naughty, oh my!
Kissing is nicey, I've often heard say,
But still how to do it, I don't know the way,
So you put your arm round my waist,
I promise I won't scream or cry,
So you do the kissing & cuddling instead,
'Cause I'm shy Mary Ellen I'm shy.

Last year with Mary Ellen to Lowestoft I went,
Mary Ellen said to me, 'I'm going bathing in the sea'
So while I go & have a splash, where all the ladies go,
You go & have a bathe amongst the men', I said, “No, no!”

I'm shy, Mary Ellen, I'm shy,
It does seem so naughty, oh my!
Men are so rough & I'm sure they will stare
They'd splash me & duck me if I go in there.
The girls ain't so rough as the men,
And they wouldn't duck me or try
So I'd rather bathe here along with the girls
Cause I'm shy, Mary Ellen, I'm shy'.

While out with Mary Ellen we met a 6 foot man,
'That's the saucy scamp' said she, 'Who last week insulted me,
Not just you thrash the massive brute I looked at his six feet,
then she said,'Take your coat off,' but I said 'What, in the street?

I'm shy, Mary Ellen, I'm shy,
It would look so naughty, oh my,
I said as I looked at the great hulking chap,
If I wasn't for one thing, I'd give him a slap,
But look at the ladies about
They'd all stop to look, and, oh my!
If I take my coat off they'll see all my shirt
and I'm shy, Mary Ellen, I'm shy'.

To marry Mary Ellen I went to church one morn,
While the party with the bride went to church, I stood aside,
For quite an hour I stood there, while she waited to be wed,
Then she came out & said, ' Come on!' 'I don't like to.' I said...

'I'm shy Mary Ellen I'm shy,
It would look so naughty, oh my!
But still we got married & got home alright,
And kept up the fun with our friends until night,
Then they wished Mary Ellen good-bye,
And they started to go, so did I,
Then she said, 'You're not going', I said, 'Yes I am,
'Cause I'm shy, Mary Ellen, I'm shy!'

An early 20th century hit for Bradford comedian Jack Pleasants who made comedy out of his shy stage persona. The song was revived several times in the 1950s and 1960s.

Roy Palmer collected it from the singing of Gordon Hall and it can be heard at British Library Sounds, still often performed at singarounds today..

Jack Pleasants singing it:

Sources:

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