What’s the matter with you—­ain’t I always been your friend? 
Ain’t I been a pardner to you?  All my pennies don’t I spend
In gettin’ nice things for you?  Don’t I give you lots of cake? 
Say, stummick, what’s the matter, that you had to go an’ ache?

Why, I loaded you with good things yesterday, I gave you more
Potatoes, squash an’ turkey than you’d ever had before. 
I gave you nuts an’ candy, pumpkin pie an’ chocolate cake,
An’ las’ night when I got to bed you had to go an’ ache.

Say, what’s the matter with you—­ain’t you satisfied at all? 
I gave you all you wanted, you was hard jes’ like a ball,
An’ you couldn’t hold another bit of puddin’, yet las’ night
You ached mos’ awful, stummick; that ain’t treatin’ me jes’ right.

I’ve been a friend to you, I have, why ain’t you a friend o’ mine? 
They gave me castor oil last night because you made me whine. 
I’m awful sick this mornin’ an’ I’m feelin’ mighty blue,
’Cause you don’t appreciate the things I do for you.

Home and the Office

Home is the place where the laughter should ring,
  And man should be found at his best. 
Let the cares of the day be as great as they may,
  The night has been fashioned for rest. 
So leave at the door when the toiling is o’er
  All the burdens of worktime behind,
And just be a dad to your girl or your lad—­
  A dad of the rollicking kind.

The office is made for the tasks you must face;
  It is built for the work you must do;
You may sit there and sigh as your cares pile up high,
  And no one may criticize you;
You may worry and fret as you think of your debt,
  You may grumble when plans go astray,
But when it comes night, and you shut your desk tight,
  Don’t carry the burdens away.

Keep daytime for toil and the nighttime for play,
  Work as hard as you choose in the town,
But when the day ends, and the darkness descends,
  Just forget that you’re wearing a frown—­
Go home with a smile!  Oh, you’ll find it worth while;
  Go home light of heart and of mind;
Go home and be glad that you’re loved as a dad,
  A dad of the fun-loving kind.

He’s Taken Out His Papers

He’s taken out his papers, an’ he’s just like you an’ me. 
He’s sworn to love the Stars and Stripes an’ die for it, says he. 
An’ he’s done with dukes an’ princes, an’ he’s done with kings an’ queens,
An’ he’s pledged himself to freedom, for he knows what freedom means.

He’s bought himself a bit of ground, an’, Lord, he’s proud an’ glad! 
For in the land he came from that is what he never had. 
Now his kids can beat his writin’, an’ they’re readin’ books, says he,
That the children in his country never get a chance to see.

He’s taken out his papers, an’ he’s prouder than a king: 
“It means a lot to me,” says he, “just like the breath o’ spring,
For a new life lies before us; we’ve got hope an’ faith an’ cheer;
We can face the future bravely, an’ our kids don’t need to fear.”