KEEP YOUR SKIRTS DOWN, MARY ANN
(Music: Robert King & Ray Henderson / Lyrics: Andrew B. Sterling)


Aileen Stanley & Billy Murray - 1925
Ernest Hare & Billy Jones (The Happiness Boys) - 1925
Arthur Fields - 1925
Missouri Jazz Band (vocal: Arthur Hall) - 1925
Bennie Krueger's Tuxedo Orch. (vocal: Franklyn Baur) - 1926
Johnny Long & His Orch. (vocal: Kathey Kearns) - 1951
The Andrews Sisters (with Billy May's Orch.) - 1958



Mary Ann, Mary Ann, I'm ashamed your name's McCann
What's the matter, Mama dear
Mary Ann, come over here
Faith, is that the dress you bought
Mother dear, they wear 'em short
You'll get pinched if you get caught
Take this tip from me
Keep your skirts down, keep your skirts down
Keep your skirts down, Mary Ann

Mary Ann, just because you have a dimple on your knee
Don't think it was put there for the world to see
Keep your skirts down, keep 'em way down
When you sit down, if you can
You'd make any man at all a nervous wreck
Remember, you can wear your beads around your neck
Keep your skirts down, keep your skirts down
Going up, keep 'em down, Mary Ann

Mary Ann, Mary Ann, faith, you'll never get a man
Oh, I'll grab one, Mama dear
Mary Ann, just listen here
Men like the old fashioned kind
Mama, dear, some aren't blind
Not with you to walk behind when the north wind blows
Keep your skirts down, keep your skirts down
Keep your skirts down, Mary Ann

You won't catch a fellow with your stockings rolled
All that you will ever catch will be a cold
Keep your skirts down, keep 'em way down
When you sit down, if you can
You must stop the traffic when you cross Broadway
It's getting tougher for the blind man every day
Keep your skirts down, keep your skirts down
Going up, keep 'em down, Mary Ann


********************


As recorded by THE ANDREWS SISTERS:


Keep your skirts down
Keep your skirts down
Keep your skirts down, Mary Ann

Just because you have a dimple on your knee
Don't think it was put there for the world to see

Keep your skirts down, keep 'em way down
When you sit down if you care
You make any man at all a nervous wreck
Remember you can wear your beads around your neck

Keep your skirts down
Keep your skirts down
Goin' up, keep 'em down, Mary Ann

(Instrumental)

Keep your skirts down, Mary Ann
Keep your skirts down, lower if you can
You won't get your fellow with your stockin's rolled
All that you will ever catch will be a cold

Keep your skirts below your knees
Else you'll show your pretty BVD's
You will stop the traffic when you cross Broadway
The pick of all the whistles on a windy day

Keep your skirts down
Keep your skirts down
Goin' up, keep 'em down, Mary Ann



(Transcribed by Mel Priddle - December 2018)