I used to believe
In the days I was pure
And I was pure as you used to be
My wonderful someone
Would come to me someday
And then it would all depend on me
If he's a good man
If he's a rich man
Wears a fine cravat, smokes a cigar
And if he's good and treats me like a lady
Then I shall tell him, "Sorry."
Chin up high
Keep your powder dry
Don't be lax or go too far
Oh, the moon is gonna shine 'til dawn
Keep that little rowboat cruising on and on
You stay perpendicular
Oh, you can't just let a man walk over you
Cold and dignified is what you are
Such a whole lot of things can happen
So firmly say but sweetly, "Sorry."
The first to appear
Was a young man from Kent
He was all that a man ought to be
The second was older
And bolder, I mean
And the third was crazy mad for me
They were all rich men
They were all fine men
Wore silk cravats, smoked a big cigar
And since they all made me feel a perfect lady
I said politely, "Sorry."
I would sigh, keep my chin up high
Never relaxed or went too far
Oh, I let the moon go shining on
I let that narrow rowboat cruise around 'til dawn
I stayed perpendicular
I could not just let a man walk over me
Perhaps my dignity went rather far
Such an interesting lot of things might have happened
I simply indicated, "Sorry."
One day comes a man
But what kind of a man
Do you know why he does what he does
He walked into my room
And he hung up his hat
And I just didn't know where I was
He was a lean man
He was a mean man
Didn't own a cravat, smoked no cigar
And God knows he never made me feel a lady
There just wasn't time for "Sorry."
Chin up high, my chin was down my shoes
And I relaxed but far too far
Oh, the way the moon kept shining on
The night was nigh for rowing and this girl was gone
Not so perpendicular
So you let a man just walk right over you
Who said dignified is what you are
Such a wonderful lot of terrible things did happen
And now it's you can tell me sorry.