Pete Seeger - Queen Anne Front lyrics

(Schmertz) When Great Grandfather was a gay young man And Great Grandmother was his bride They found a lot, a jolly little spot Over on the old North Side It sloped down toward the river, from River Avenue Great Grandma said that it would give her Such a lovely view So they took a look in Godey's Ladies Book To see what they could find And they found a house, a jolly little house, With a Queen Anne front And a Mary Anne behind. Now, Great Grandfather was a handy man Who never wasted any time He found a crew that knew just what to do With white pine, common brick, and lime. He said, "I'll build a big veranda, where Amanda can perch. "And I'll sit there myself on Sunday mornings "When everybody else has gone to church." The neighbors said, "He's crazy in the head "He's surely lost his mind." But he built that house, that jolly little house, With a Queen Anne front And a Mary Anne behind. Now, Great Grandpa at last was laid to rest With Great Grandmother at his side. Old Aunt Amanda said, "My land, an "Empty house I can't abide. "I'll start a ladies' seminary, it will be very select. "Of course, it will be very necessary "That all my girls be circumspect." As you may guess, it was a big success Those girls were so refined In that self-same house, that jolly little house, With a Queen Anne front And a Mary Anne behind. Now, Aunt Amanda's work at last was done And she pa**ed on to her reward. Appeared a sign that bore the line Announcing simply, "Room and Board." The house was soon filled with roomers, of every degree Red flannel underwear and bloomers Hung out for everyone to see. The old porch stoop had started in to droop The house looked so resigned That self-same house, that jolly little house, With a Queen Anne front And a Mary Anne behind. Now that old house was looking worse and worse And so was River Avenue. Wooden shacks across the tracks Spoiled Great Grandma's lovely view. A group of very pretty ladies moved in there one day. The were such pretty Sues and Sadies But a wagon came and took them all away. Said one old dame, "Now isn't it a shame "My girls were so refined." But they closed that house, that jolly little house, With a Queen Anne front And a Mary Anne behind.