Just as I was getting into bed

AKA At ten last night I was blowing out the light
First Published 1901
Lyrics JP Harrington Music George LeBrunn Roud 21940

Music Hall Performers  Frank Coyne
Folk performances Source Singers
Albert Bromley, 1964, Suffolk, England		 

From McGlennon's 1902 Song Annual

At ten last night I was blowing out the light,
And thinking of reposing;
Just married - me, so I, you see, 
Believe in early closing.
"Rat! tat; tat!" someone gave our knocker "jip"-
The wife says, "Perhaps my sister!"
When I crawls down and says, "Here, what's up?"
Some cove says "Muffins, mister?"

Just as I was getting into bed!
Just as I was getting into bed!
Someone comes to worry and alarm us;
Down pops me in my pyjamas!
Nice thing, wasn't it, for a young man newly wed?
Fancy coming round, to know if I'd like any muffins, 
Just as I was getting into bed!

I slammed that door and all up the stairs I swore,
He'd giv'n mo such a "shocker," 
When bang! hang! bang! some other fiend,
Played "Old Nick" with our knocker.
Down I went, and now what do you suppose?
To worry and excite me,
A former flame of my dear "old Dutch,"
Had just come round to fight me!
 
Just as I was getting into bed!
Just as I was getting into bed!
Someone comes to worry and alarm us;
Down pops me in my pyjamas! 
Nice thing, wasn't it, for a young man newly wed?
Fancy coming round to say he'd fight me for a dollar, 
Just as I was getting into bed!

Once more in bed I laid down my sleepy head,
But, just as I was snoring —
Oh! what a shame I a neighbour came
And nearly knocked tho door in! 
"Hi! hi! hi I there's a fire down the road —
If you don't come you oughter! 
You might just go and slip on your clothes,
And help us squirt the water!"

Just as I was getting into bed!
Just as I was getting into bed!
Someone comes to worry and alarm us;
Down pops me in my pyjamas! 
Nice thing, wasn't it, for a young man newly wed?
Fancy wanting me to go out squirting at a fire, 
Just as I was getting into bed!

I'd just said, "No, no, I ain't a-going to go,
And so, good-night, old feller:"
When — hark! the bell! and such a yell,
From my friend, Jimmy Mellor! 
"My old gal, oh! she's very, very bad 
In fact, I might say wusser;
You might pop up and ask your old gal,
If she'll pop round and nuss her?"

Just as I was getting into bed! Just 
Just as I was getting into bed!
Someone comes to worry and alarm us;
Down pops me in my pyjamas! 
Nice thing, wasn't it, for a young man newly wed?
Fancy him a-coming round to borrow my old woman, 
Just as I was getting into bed!

A turn of the century song written by John P Harrrington with music by George LeBrunn – both prolific songwriters. It was performed by the popular comedian  Frank Coyne.

In the 1960s it was collected by Neil Lanham from the singing of Albert Bromley, one of a generation of great pub singers active in and around Suffolk in the 1950s and 60s. You can hear it on the Helions Bumpstead CD, (NLCD8 ‘Comic Songs of the Stour Valley‘).

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