Digital Tradition Mirror

I Used to Work in Chicago

(This score available as ABC, SongWright, PostScript, PNG, or PMW, or a MIDI file)
Pennywhistle notation and Dulcimer tab for this song is also available

I Used to Work in Chicago

I used to work in Chicago, in a department store,
I used to work in Chicago. I did, but I don't anymore.
     A lady came in, and asked for some cake
     I asked her what kind she'd adore--
     "Layer," she said, so layer I did
I don't work there anymore.


I used to work in Chicago, in a department store,
I used to work in Chicago. I did, but I don't anymore.
     A lady came in, and asked for a fowl
     I asked her what kind she'd adore--
     "A goose," she said, so I gave her a goose
I don't work there anymore.

(similarly)

     A lady came into the hat shop,
     I asked, "What kind would you like?"
     "Felt" she said, felt I did

     A lady came in for a sleeper
     I asked, "which berth would you like?"
     "Upper" she said; Up 'er I did

     A lady came in for a waterbottle
     I said, "what kind would you like?"
     "Rubber " she said; rub 'er I did

     A lady came in for a sweater
     I asked, "what kind would you like?"
     "Jumper, she said"; jump 'er I did

     A lady came in for a ticket
     I asked, "Where would you like to go?"
     "Bangor," she said; bang 'er I did

Also:
     Hardware...nails....nail her I did
     Hardware...screw....screw her I did
     Fruit......plums....plumb her I did
     Cinnamon...sticks...stick her I did
     Peas.......split....split her I did
     Milk.......cream....cream her I did
     Covers.....spread...spread her I did
     Rope.......jump.....jump her I did
     Booze......liquor...lick 'er I did


note: First two verses from the streets of Brooklyn, ca 1938.
     Additional verses from More Rugby Songs, via AJS.
     And from The Erotic Muse, Cray.  RG
RG, AJS, EC

Thanks to Mudcat for the Digital Tradition!