Edward Meeker - Go Easy, Mabel (1909)

Edward Meeker sings “Go Easy, Mabel” on Edison Standard Record 10173.

Words are by Ren Shields, Ed Moran, and Will D. Cobb.

Music is by J. Fred Helf.

Young Percival du Peyster was just a
ribbon clerk, but Mabel Fitch thought he
was rich and didn't have to work. One
pay-night he met Mabel and asked her
out to dine, and when he heard her order
bird, he said, "Here goes my nine!" But
when she ordered wine, a chill ran down
his spine. He yelled so loud that all the
crowd heard up and down the line...

Go easy, Mabel! Go easy, Mabel!
Mabel, if you love your Percy,
cease! Oh, goodness! Gracious!
Mercy! Go easy, Mabel! I'm not
a Pittsburgh man! If you can't
go easy, Mabel, go as easy as you can!

Said Mabel, "Gee! That's funny--a
millionaire that's broke!" But Percy,
he laughed inwardly. He couldn't see
the joke. She ordered two more
bottles and soon was feeling queer,
cried, "I'm a sport. Hey, bring a quart
to everybody here!" The waiter then
drew near, and Percy shook with fear.
Then he turned pale, he thought of
jail, and cried, "Oh, honey dear!"

Go easy, Mabel! Go easy, Mabel!
Mabel, if you love your Percy,
cease! Oh, goodness! Gracious!
Mercy! Go easy, Mabel! I'm not
a Pittsburgh man! If you can't
go easy, Mabel, go as easy as you can!

Lyrics were written by the trio of Ren Shields, Will D. Cobb, and Ed Moran. Shields and Cobb collaborated on the hit tune "In The Good Old Summer Time." Eddie Moran collaborated on songs like "There Will Be No Wedding Bells For Me" (1907) and "I Sent My Wife To The Thousand Isles" (1916).

The music is by J. Fred Helf (1870?-1915). He was an American composer who wrote "Everybody Works But Father" and "When A Girl From New Hampshire Meets a Boy From Tennessee" (1915). Helf's music publishing firm went bankrupt by 1910. He passed away in 1915, at age 45, leaving a widow and a child.

Edward Meeker comic song “Go Easy, Mabel” Edison Standard Record 10173