Oh, Mother! I'm Wild!

Oh, Mother! I'm Wild! by Johnson, Howard, Harry Pease, and Eddie Nelson, 1920.



Use these lyrics to sing along with the MP3 of a more modern uke version sung by Brian Hefferan.

Oh, Mother! I'm Wild!

[Verse 1]

Percival Jones was a sweet little boy
All dressed up like a bundle of joy
Early to bed and early to rise
never made Percival very wise
'Cause after a month on Broadway
Here's what he wrote home today

[Chorus 1]

Oh, Mother! you wouldn't know your child
Oh, Mother! I'm getting awfully wild
I am drinking Coca-Cola now
On the level, I'm a little devil
Oh, Mother! you wouldn't want me home
cannibals compared to me are mild
I'm no more your peaceful little lamb
I shave most every day just like a man
I've thrown away my nighty and I wear a big pjam
Oh, Mother I'm Wild!

[Verse 2]

Percy went out to see a musical show
Got him a seat in the very first row
The girls on the stage started to shimmy and shake
Percy stood up and shouted "Goodness sake!"
Oh mother if you could just see
This is the life dear, for me!

[Chorus 2]

Oh, Mother! you wouldn't know your child
Oh, Mother! I'm getting awfully wild
I am reading dimestore novels now
Every minute, I just go the limit
Oh, Mother! you wouldn't want me home
cannibals compared to me are mild
Once I dined, stayed out 'till after ten
I bought some Cuban cigarettes and then
I stood out at the corner and I smoked with all the men
Oh, Mother I'm Wild!

[Verse 3]

...Once I went out to a swell affair
a lady asked me to do the shimmy there
I said I beg your pardon but that's something I don't wear
Oh, Mother I'm Wild!

Copies of (at least) the sheet music can be found at eBay.

For more, see theBilly Jones recording for Aeolian-Vocalion in 1919.