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The Old Fall River Line

By William Jerome & Andrew B. Sterling (words)
and Harry Von Tilzer (music), 1913.

Adapted by Charlie Ipcar, 5/19/2016

Tune: adapted from Traditional The Irish Jubilee

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Couple spooning on the hurricane deck, Steamer Albany, Hudson River, New York, 1890, sketched by L. S. Reinhart, from Harper's Weekly.
"Up the Hudson," drawn by C. S. Reinhart, Harper's Weekly, September 13, 1890, p. 716.

You may talk about your mooning and your spooning on the Line
As you take a trip to Boston, I'm sure you'll find it fine.
Cruising up the Bay, me boys, hurrah, it can't be beat,
Strolling 'long the upper deck in search of maids so sweet.

Chorus:
On the Old Fall River Line,
On the Old Fall River Line,
I fell for Suzy's line of talk,
She fell in with mine;
Then we fell in with the parson
And he tied us tight as twine;
Now I wish to Lord, I fell overboard
On the Old Fall River Line!

At once I spied a handsome maid a-reading in her chair;
I sauntered up and asked her name which she shyly did declare;
Says I, "Sue, in your sailor suit, you look so very cute!"
She smiled at me as she replied "You're a gallant young galoot." (CHO)

And now the boat's at the dock; we're safely back ashore:
Spooners by the dozens, merry maids and more;
The chaperones, the parents, the aged and the lame,
And everyone can hardly wait to board that boat again! (CHO)

So Sue and I got married, in a cottage we do dwell,
And night and day I slave to keep my growing family well;
But sometimes in my dreams I'm on the Bay again,
Beneath the moon, without a care, cruising round the bend. (CHO)+(Tagline)


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The Old Fall River Line

Composed in 1913 by William Jerome (words), Andrew B. Sterling (words)
and Harry Von Tilzer (music) set on a steamship of the Fall River Line
of steamships between New York and Newport, Rhode Island,
which connected with trains from Newport to Boston.

Talk about your mooning, and spooning
Take a trip to Boston, it's fine.
Cruising up the bay, boys, hooray, boys;
I was on the upper deck when I met mine;
I said, "Sue, in your sailor suit,
You look perfectly cute!"

Chorus:

On the Old Fall River Line,
On the Old Fall River Line,
I fell for Suzy's line of talk,
She fell in with mine;
And then we fell in with the parson
And he tied us tight as twine;
But I wish, Oh Lord, I fell overboard
On the Old Fall River Line!
Yes I wish, Oh Lord, I fell overboard
On the Old Fall River Line!

Now the boat has landed, we're stranded
Spooners by the dozen and more;
Hear the Captain calling and bawling
"Is there anybody wants to go ashore?"
Everybody just answered then,
"Turn the boat 'round again!" (CHO)

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