Willie, the Chimney Sweeper

Willie, the Chimney Sweeper (Willie the Weeper)

Traditional, originated circa 1904.


Have you ever heard about Willie the weeper?
Had a job as a chimley sweeper.
He had the dope habit and he had it bad.
Listen while I tell you ’bout a dream he had.

Oh-oh-oh.
Oh-oh-oh.

He went down to the dope shop one Saturday night.
He knew the lights would all be burnin’ bright.
Well I guess he smoked a dozen pills or more;
When he woke up he was on a foreign shore.

Oh-oh-oh.
Oh-oh-oh.

The Queen of Sheba was the first he met.
She called him lovey dovey and honey pet.
She gave him a great big autie-mobile
With a diamond headlight and a go-holden wheel.

Oh-oh-oh.
Oh-oh-oh.

Down in Honolulu Willie fell in a trance
Seein’ the dusky beauties do the hula dance.
His sweetie got in jail and Willie sure did shout
When he got the news that she had wiggled out.

Oh-oh-oh.
Oh-oh-oh.

He landed with a splash in the river Nile
Ridin’ on seagoin’ crocodile
He winked at Cleopatra. She said, “Ain’t he a sight.”
(‘N’ she said) “How ‘about a date for next Saturday night?”

Oh-oh-oh.
Oh-oh-oh.

He had a million cattle and he had a million sheep.
Had a million vessels on the ocean deep.
Had a million dollars all in nickels and dimes,
Well he knew because he counted it a thousand times.

Oh-oh-oh.
Oh-oh-oh.

He landed in New York one evenin’ late.
He asked his sugar for an after-date.
Started to kiss her and she started to pout,
When bang-blang!

And the dope gave out.


Collected from Victor 20502, as sung by Ernest Rogers, recorded February 17, 1927.