Song Lyric Sunday: Do’s and Don’ts – ‘Does Your Chewing Gum Lose It’s Flavour”

And now for something completely different.

Lonnie Donegan was at the head of the skiffle craze in the UK in the late fifties and developed a successful side-line in humorous little ditties such as this (another was ‘My Old Man’s A Dustman’).

Although it was written in the USA as long ago as 1924, in 1959, when this recording was made, it was quite risque for the UK – and particularly the BBC.

These are the original lyrics: Lonnie’s version here is adapted for a British audience.

Oh me, oh my, oh you
Whatever shall I do?
Hallelujah
The question is peculiar
I’d give a lot of dough
If only I could know
The answer to my question
Is it yes or is it no
Does your chewing gum lose its flavour
On the bedpost overnight?
If your mother says, don’t chew it
Do you swallow it in spite?
Can you catch it on your tonsils?
Can you heave it left and right?
Does your chewing gum lose its flavour
On the bedpost overnight?

Here comes a blushing bride
The groom is by her side
Up to the altar
Just as steady as Gibraltar
Why, the groom has got the ring
And it’s such a pretty thing
But as he slips it on her finger
The choir begins to sing
Does your chewing gum lose its flavour
On the bedpost overnight?
If your mother says, don’t chew it
Do you swallow it in spite?
Can you catch it on your tonsils?
Can you heave it left and right?
Does your chewing gum lose its flavour
On the bedpost overnight?

Now the nation rise as one
To send their only son
Up to the White House
Yes, the nation’s only White House
To voice their discontent
Unto the President
They pawn the burning question
What has swept this continent?
If tin whistles are made of tin
What do they make fog horns out of? Boom, boom
Does your chewing gum lose its flavour
On the bedpost overnight?
If your mother says, don’t chew it
Do you swallow it in spite?
Can you catch it on your tonsils?
Can you heave it left and right?
Does your chewing gum lose its flavour
On the bedpost overnight?
On the bedpost overnight

Hello there, I love you and the one who holds you tight
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday
Thursday, Friday, Saturday night
On the bedpost overnight
A dollar is a dollar and a dime is a dime
He’s singin’ out the chorus
But he hasn’t got the time
On the bedpost overnight, yeah

Songwriters: BILLY ROSE / MARTY BLOOM / ERNEST BREUER