New York Girls
Bittersweet Tales of Bleecker Street: A New York Adventure
Lyrics
As I walked down through Chatham Street
Describing a walk down Chatham Street.
A fair maid I did meet,
Encounter with a fair maiden.
She asked me to see her home--
The maiden invites the speaker to her home.
She lived in Bleecker Street.
Her residence is in Bleecker Street.
Chorus:
Chorus introduction.
And away you santy, my dear honey,
Expressing affection, addressing the New York girls.
O you New York girls, can't you dance the polka?
Asking if they can dance the polka.
And when we got to Bleecker Street,
Arrival at Bleecker Street.
We stopped at forty-four,
Stopping at house number 44.
Her mother and her sister there,
Mother and sister waiting at the door.
To meet her at the door.
Meeting family members.
Chorus:
Reiteration of chorus.
And when I got inside the house,
Entering the house.
The drinks were passed around,
Drinks being shared.
The liquor was so awful strong,
Strong liquor causing dizziness.
My head went round and round.
Feeling disoriented.
Chorus:
Chorus repetition.
And then we had another drink,
Having another drink before eating.
Before we sat to eat,
Strong liquor again.
The liquor was so awful strong,
Falling asleep quickly.
I quickly fell asleep.
Chorus repetition.
Chorus:
Introduction to a spoken section.
([Spoken] Henry Crun: Oh, come on, Min; play that modern banjo, Min.)
[Spoken] Encouraging Min to play the banjo.
(Minnie Bannister: Ya pa pa pa pa....)
[Spoken] Banjo playing sounds.
When I awoke next morning
Awakening with a headache.
I had an aching head,
Feeling unwell.
There was I, Jack all alone,
Finding oneself alone in bed.
Stark naked in me bed.
Naked and vulnerable.
Chorus:
Chorus repetition.
My gold watch and my pocketbook
Realization of loss: watch, pocketbook, and friend.
And lady friend were gone;
Mentioning the disappearance of possessions and companion.
And there was I, Jack all alone,
Reiteration of being alone.
Stark naked in the room.
Emphasis on vulnerability.
Chorus:
Chorus repetition.
On looking round this little room,
Surveying the room, finding little of value.
There's nothing I could see,
Describing the room's contents.
But a woman's shift and apron
Noticing a woman's shift and apron.
That were no use to me.
Items useless to the speaker.
Chorus:
Chorus repetition.
With a flour barrel for a suit of clothes,
Wearing a flour barrel as clothing.
Down Cherry Street forlorn,
Walking down Cherry Street in a forlorn state.
There Martin Churchill took me in,
Taken in by Martin Churchill, going around Cape Horn.
And sent me 'round Cape Horn.
Further events after the unfortunate incident.
Chorus:
Chorus repetition and credits to Sam Waring.
Sam Waring
Attribution to Sam Waring.
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