New York Girls
Tommy Makem Lyrics


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As I walked down the Broadway
One evening in July
I met a maid who asked me trade
And a sailor john says I

To Tiffany's I took her
I did not mind expense
I bought her two gold earrings
And they cost me fifteen cents

And away, you santee
My dear Annie
Oh, you New York girls
Can't you dance the polka?

Says she, 'you lime juice sailor
Now see me home you may'
But when we reached her cottage door
She this to me did say

My flash man he's a Yankee
With his hair cut short behind
He wears a pair of long sea-boots
And he sails in the blackball line

He's homeward bound this evening
And with me he will stay
So get a move on, sailor-boy
Get cracking on your way

So I kissed her hard and proper
Afore her flash man came
And fare ye well, me Bowery gal
I know your little game

I wrapped me glad rags round me
And to the docks did steer
I'll never court another maid
I'll stick to rum and beer

I joined a Yankee blood-boat
And sailed away next morn




Don't ever fool around with gals
You're safer off cape horn

Overall Meaning

The song "New York Girls" tells the story of a sailor walking down Broadway in New York City in July. He meets a girl who asks him to trade, and he takes her to Tiffany's, where he buys her two gold earrings for 15 cents. The chorus features the line, "Oh, you New York girls can't you dance the polka?" which pokes fun at the idea that those from New York are lacking in some way.


As the sailor and the girl head back to her cottage, she warns him of her Yankee flash man who wears long sea boots and sails in the blackball line. She tells the sailor that her flash man is homeward bound that evening and will be staying with her, so the sailor should leave immediately. Before he goes, he kisses her goodbye and tells her he knows her game. He then heads to the docks where he joins a Yankee blood-boat, sailing away the next morning. The song ends with the cautionary note, "Don't ever fool around with gals, you're safer off Cape Horn."


Overall, the song is a humorous cautionary tale of sailors getting caught up with the wrong women in New York City. It also highlights the idea that those from New York may have a reputation for being cunning and manipulative.


Line by Line Meaning

As I walked down the Broadway
I was walking along Broadway one evening.


One evening in July
It was a July evening when I met this maid.


I met a maid who asked me trade
I met a girl who propositioned me to engage in trade.


And a sailor john says I
I responded by saying that I am a sailor named John.


To Tiffany's I took her
I took her to Tiffany's store.


I did not mind expense
I didn't care about the cost.


I bought her two gold earrings
I purchased two gold earrings for her.


And they cost me fifteen cents
I got the earrings for just fifteen cents.


And away, you santee
I waved goodbye, you American sailor.


My dear Annie
I'm addressing my beloved Annie.


Oh, you New York girls
I'm talking about the girls of New York.


Can't you dance the polka?
Can't you perform the Polka dance?


Says she, 'you lime juice sailor
She addressed me as the sailor who drinks lime juice.


Now see me home you may'
She requested me to accompany her home.


But when we reached her cottage door
But when we reached her house...


She this to me did say
She said this to me:


My flash man he's a Yankee
My man is a Yankee.


With his hair cut short behind
He has short hair at the back of his head.


He wears a pair of long sea-boots
He wears long sea-boots.


And he sails in the blackball line
He sails with the Black Ball Line.


He's homeward bound this evening
He's coming home this evening.


And with me he will stay
He will stay with me.


So get a move on, sailor-boy
So, it's time for you to leave, sailor-boy.


Get cracking on your way
Hurry up and leave!


So I kissed her hard and proper
I gave her a passionate kiss.


Afore her flash man came
Before her man showed up.


And fare ye well, me Bowery gal
And goodbye, my Bowery girl.


I know your little game
I know what you're up to.


I wrapped me glad rags round me
I put on my fanciest clothes.


And to the docks did steer
I headed towards the docks.


I'll never court another maid
I won't flirt with any other girl.


I'll stick to rum and beer
I'll stick to drinking rum and beer.


I joined a Yankee blood-boat
I joined a boat of American sailors.


And sailed away next morn
I sailed away the next morning.


Don't ever fool around with gals
Don't mess around with girls.


You're safer off cape horn
It's safer for you to be at Cape Horn.




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS

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