Words by Sam M. Lewis, 1885-1959
and Joe Young, 1889-1939
Music by Walter Donaldson, 1891-1947
Published 1919, Waterson, Berlin & Snyder Co., Music
Publishing,
Strand Theatre Bldg., Broadway at 47th St., New York.
MIDI file courtesy Benjamin Tubb.
Verse1:
�Reuben, Reuben, I�ve been thinking,�
Said his wifey dear;
�Now that all is peaceful and calm,
The boys will soon be back on the farm;�
Mister Reuben, started wink-ing,
And slowly rubbed his chin;
He pulled his chair up close to mother,
And he asked her with a grin:
CHORUS [sung twice after each verse]
How �ya gonna keep �em, down on the farm,
After they�ve seen Pa-ree?
How �ya gonna keep �em away from Broad-way;
Jazzin� a-�round�,
And paintin� the town?
How �ya gonna keep �em away from harm?
That�s a mistery;
They�ll never want to see a rake or plow,
And who the deuce can parleyvous a cow?
How �ya gonna keep �em down on the farm,
After they�ve seen Paree?
Verse 2:
�Reuben, Reuben, You�re mistaken,�
Said his wifey dear;
�Once a farmer, always a jay,
And farmers always stick to the hay;�
�Mother Reuben, I�m not fakin�,
Tho� you may think it strange;
But wine and women play the mischief,
With a boy who�s loose with change:�
For more music of the 19th and 20th Centuries, visit http://pdmusic.org/
Missourians of the First World War