Ta Ra Ra Boom de Ay

Ta-ra-ra-boom-de-ay, song lyrics

Song: Ta-ra-ra-boom-de-ay
Lyrics: Joe Hill(1)

Music: to the tune of the original “Ta-ra-ra-boom-de-ay”
Year: c.1914
Country: USA

I had a job once threshing wheat; worked sixteen hours with hands and feet.
And when the moon was shining bright, they kept me working all the night.
One moonlight night, I hate to tell, I “accidentally” slipped and fell.
My pitchfork went right in between some cog wheels of that thresh-machine.

Ta-ra-ra-boom-de-ay!
It made a noise that way.
And wheels and bolts and hay,
Went flying ev’ry way.
That stingy rube said, “Well,
A thousand gone to hell.”
But I did sleep that night;
I needed it all right.

Next day that stingy rube did say, “I’ll bring my eggs to town today.
You grease my wagon up, you mutt, and don’t forget to screw the nut.”
I greased his wagon all right, but I plumb forgot to screw the nut.
And when he started on that trip, the wheel slipped off and broke his hip.

Ta-ra-ra-boom-de-ay!
It made a noise that way,
That rube was sure a sight,
And mad enough to fight.
His whiskers and his legs
Were full of scrambled eggs.
I told him, “That’s too bad.
I’m feeling very sad.”

And then that farmer said, “You turk! I bet you are an I-Won’t Work.”
He paid me off right there, By gum! So I went home and told my chum.
Next day when threshing did commence, my chum was Johnny on the fence.
And ‘pon my word, that “awkward” kid, he “dropped” his pitchfork, like I did.

Ta-ra-ra-boom-de-ay!
It made a noise that way,
And part of that machine
Hit Reuben on the bean.
He cried, “Oh me, oh my;
I nearly lost my eye.”
My partner said, “You’re right.
It’s bedtime now. Good ight.”

But still that rube was pretty wise; these things did open up his eyes.
He said, “There must be something wrong; I think I work my men too long.”
He cut the hours and raised the pay; gave ham and eggs for ev’ry day;
Now gets his men from union hall, and has no “accidents” at all.

Ta-ra-ra-boom-de-ay!
That rube is feeling gay.
He learned his lesson quick,
Just through a simple trick.
For fixing rotten jobs
And fixing greedy slobs,
This is the only way!
Ta-ra-ra-boom-de-ay!

Ta-Ra-Ra-Boom-De-Ay (1891)
by Richard Morton

information about this edition

sister projects: Wikipedia article, Commons category, Wikidata item

A smart and stylish girl you see,
Belle of good society;
Not too strict but rather free,
Yet as right as right can be!
Never forward, never bold,—
Not too hot, and not too cold,
But the very thing, I’m told,
That in your arms you’d like to hold!

Chorus.
Ta_ra_ra Boom_de_ay, Ta_ra_ra Boom_de_ay, Ta_ra_ra Boom_de_ay, Ta_ra_ra Boom_de_ay;
Ta_ra_ra Boom_de_ay, Ta_ra_ra Boom_de_ay, Ta_ra_ra Boom_de_ay, Ta_ra_ra Boom_de_ay;

I’m not extravagantly shy,
And when a nice young man is nigh,
For his heart I have a try—
And faint away with tearful cry!
When the good young man, in haste,
Will support me round the waist;
I don’t come to while thus embraced,
Till of my lips he steals a taste!—
Chorus.—Ta-ra-ra, &c.

I’m a timid flower of innocence—
Pa says that that I have no sense,—
I’m one eternal big expense;
But men say that I’m just immense!
Ere my verses I conclude,
I’d like it known and understood,
Though free as air, I’m never rude,—
I’m not too bad and not too good!
Chorus.—Ta-ra-ra, &c.