PARTS: Soprano Alto Tenor Bass All
KEY: bold = first beat of bar ^ = rest Underline = triplet backing vocal = [text]
166 - How You Gonna Keep ‘Em Down On The Farm
Verse 1
“Reuben, (quick)Reuben, I’ve been (quick)thinking” said his wifey dear
“Now that all is peaceful and calm, The boys will soon be back on the farm”
Mister (quick)Reuben, started (quick)winking, and slowly rubbed his chin
He pulled his chair up close to mother and he asked her with a grin:
Chorus 1
“How’ya gonna keep ‘em down on the farm after they’ve seen Paree?
How’ya gonna keep ‘em a-way from Broadway
Jazzin’ aroun’ and painting the town?
How’ya gonna keep ‘em a-way from harm? That’s a (quick)mys-ter--y
^ They’ll never want to see a rake or plow
^ And who the deuce can parley-vous a cow
How’ya gonna keep ‘em down on the farm after they’ve seen Paree?
Verse 2
“Reuben, (quick)Reuben, you’re (quick)mistaken” said his wifey dear
“Once a farmer always a jay, and farmers always stick to the hay”
Mother (quick)Reuben, I’m not (quick)fakin’ Though you may think it strange
But wine and women play the mischief with a boy who’s loose with change”
Chorus 2
“How’ya gonna keep ‘em down on the farm after they’ve seen Paree?
How’ya gonna keep ‘em a-way from Broadway
Jazzin’ aroun’ and painting the town?
How’ya gonna keep ‘em a-way from harm? That’s a (quick)mys-ter--y
^ Imagine Reuben when he meets his pa
^ He’ll kiss his cheek and holler “oo-la-la!”
How’ya gonna keep ‘em down on the farm after they’ve seen Paree?
Chorus 1 repeat
“How’ya gonna keep ‘em down on the farm after they’ve seen Paree?
How’ya gonna keep ‘em a-way from Broadway
Jazzin’ aroun’ and painting the town?
How’ya gonna keep ‘em a-way from harm? That’s a (quick)mys-ter--y
^ They’ll never want to see a rake or plow
^ And who the deuce can parley-vous a cow(quick)-ow-ow-How’ya…
…gonna keep ‘em down on the farm
Tag
after they’ve seen,
after they’ve seen,
after they’ve seen Paree?
Words by Sam M Lewis and Joe Young; Music by Walter Donaldson. 1919