I HAD BUT FIFTY CENTS 

 I  took  my girl to a fancy ball, 
It was a social hop.. . 
We stayed there till the lights went out
The music it did stop. 
I took her to a restaurant, 
The best one in the state
She said she wasn't hungry
But this is what she ate.
A dozen raw, a plate of slaw 
A chicken and a roast 
Some Sparrowgrass and applesass,
And Soft-Shelled crabs on toast
A big box stew and crackers too,
Her appetite was immense, 
When she called for pie, 
I thought I'd die, For I had but fifty cents. 

She said she wasn't hungry, She didn't care to eat" 
But I've got money in my clothes,
To bet she can'"t be beat.
She took it in so cozy 
She had a awful tank 
She said she wasn't thirsty,
But this is what she drank, 
A whiskey skin, a glass of gin
It made me shake with fear, 
Some ginger pop with rum on top,
A schooner then of beer, 
A glass of ale, a gin cocktail,
She ought to have more sense,
When she called for more,
I fell on the floor,
For I had but fifty cents

She said she wasn't hungry,
She didn't care to eat,
I was expecting any moment,
to be kicked out in the street.
She said she'd bring her family along,
Next time we went for fun,
I gave the man my fifty cents,
And this is what he done,
He broke my nose, He tore my clothes,
Then hit me in the face,
He gave me the prize of a pair of black eyes,
With me he swept the place.
He grabbed me where my pants hung loose,
And threw me over the fence, 
Take my advice, Don't try it twice,
If you have but fifty cents.

                 "Buck" Williams