Quote from admin on September 9, 2008, 6:36 pm

Hi Martin,

I don't know anything about this song. But here's a few versions that fit your description somewhat.

Peter

BRIGHT SILVERY LIGHT
(Patterson)

In the town of Kilallae, in the merry month of May
When snowdrops and primroses were in bloom
A young lassie passed me by and she gave me the glad eye
By the bright silvery light of the moon

She was my delight, she was such a lovely sight
With her pearly teeth and lovely golden hair
But I was such a loon for we married far too soon
By the bright silvery light of the moon

When she'd squandered all me dough, to her house I did go
What a terrible place to spend your honeymoon
With no fire in the grate-y, you could see right through the slates
By the bright silvery light of the moon

When we started off to bed, I was in an awful dread
I thought that we were going there too soon
But then upon a chair she placed her golden hair
By the bright silvery light of the moon

But there was worse in store when she started off to snore
And nearly blew the blankets from the room
And then upon a peg I saw her wooden leg
By the bright silvery light of the moon

I caught her by the head, I pulled her out of bed
Like a broken doll, she lay there in the gloom
And it nearly broke my heart to look at her spare parts
By the bright silvery light of the moon

So, lads, take my advice and look at your girl twice
For they're often out to fool a poor gossoon
Pull their legs, their teeth and hair and make sure that they're all there
By the bright silvery light of the moon

YOU CAN'T CHANGE IT

Oh, I know a lot of lazy men, meet them when you may
They've never got a penny, always stony broke they say
For me it's just the other way, I'm a man of biz
I've always got a shilling in my pocket - here it is
Well I can't change it, I can't change it
The reason why I'll let you know, it's one I made myself and so
I can't change it, I don't intend to try
But I hope to cheat a blind man in the sweet by and by

Oh, I never was a proud young man - anyone can see
Fashions I don't care about - clothes don't trouble me
I never was a masher, for I'm satisfied to know
I've got but one shirt to my back I can say that although
I can't change it, I can't change it
I've got but one shirt to my back and it fits me like a bloomin' sack
I can't change it, I don't intend to try
So while it's being washed I lie in bed until it's dry

Oh, I thought that I'd get married like a lot of foolish men
I found the girl and bought the ring, got married there and then
When the job was over I was taken down a peg
Her hair and eyes and teeth were false and she had a wooden leg
Well I can't change it, I can't change it
It was a great surprise to me – a half a woman and half a tree!
Well I can't change it, I don't intend to try
So I'll chop her up for firewood in the sweet by and by

Oh when I came home the other night, the nurse was at the door
She said "You've got another one, it makes you just a score
Such a pretty little girl - I hope you'll wish her joy"
I wished her to old Nick, for what I wanted was a boy
Well I can't change it, I can't change it
I asked a lot, who ought to know, I asked the nurse and she said "no"
She can't change it, she doesn't intend to try
But she hopes I'll have a dozen in the sweet by and by

CAN'T CHANGE IT

I never was a proud young man as all you folks can see
I never cared too much for clothes, and styles don't bother me
I never was a dandy, but I'm satisfied, you know
I've got but one shirt to my back, and I can say although
I can't change it; Can't change it
I've got but one shirt to my back; it fits me like an old tow sack
But I can't change it, and there ain't no use to try
I have to lay in bed while my shirt hangs out to dry!

My relatives came to see me and they thought they'd stay awhile
Let me tell you, fellers, on their faces was a smile
My friends they had a baby --it was their pride and joy
They had a darling little girl and they wanted a boy
But they can't change, it, Can't change it
They told the doctor what they wanted and he only smiled and said
"Friend, I can't change it, and there ain't no use to try
But I hope you have a dozen boys in the sweet bye and bye"

I thought that I'd get married like most young foolish men
I found a girl, I bought a ring, I got married there and then
But when the job was over I was taken down a peg
Her eye and her hair and her teeth was false, and she had a wooden leg!
But I can't change it, Can't change it
It was a great surprise to me; she was half a woman, half a tree
But I can't change it, and there ain't no use to try
So I'll hack that leg for kindlin' wood in the sweet bye and bye

In the Sweet By and By

I know a lot of lazy men, I meet them when I may
They never have a penny, always stony broke they say
With me it's quite the other way, for I'm a man of this:
I'm neer without a shilling in my pocket--here it is

But I can't change it, I can't change it
The reason why I let you know
It's one I made myself and so
I can't change it, no matter how I try
But I hope to cheat a blind man in the sweet by and by

I never was a (?) man, as anyone can see
For passions I don't care about and clothes don't trouble me
I never was a masher I am satisfied you know
I've got one shirt upon my back, but can't say that although

I can't change it, I can't change it
I've got one shirt upon my back
It fits me like a blooming sack
But I can't change it, no matter how I try
But I'll get a change for linen in the sweet by and by

I thought I would get married, like a lot of foolish men
I found a girl, I bought the ring, we got married there and then
But when that job was over I was taken down a peg
Her hair, her teeth, her eyes were false and she had a wooden leg

But I can't change her, I can't change her
O what a great surprise to me
Half a woman and half a tree
I can't change her, no matter how I try
But I'll chop her up for firewood in the sweet by and by

When I came home this afternoon the nurse was at the door
She said, You've got another one, which makes you half a score
O she is such a pretty one, I'd like to wish you joy
I wished her to Old Nick, for what I wanted was a boy

But I can't change her, I can't change her
I asked a lot that ought to knw
I asked the nurse and shes said no
I can't change her, no matter how I try
But I hope you'll have a dozen in the sweet by and by

I Can’t Change It

Now you talk about a lazy man you meet ‘em when they may
They’ve never got a shilling in their pocket, so they say.
With me, it’s just the other way for I’m a man of biz
Who’s always got a shilling in my pocket, here it is.

But I can’t change it, I can’t change it,
The reason why I’ll let you know.
It’s one I made myself
And so I can’t change it, no matter how I try,
But I hope to cheat a blind man in the sweet bye and bye.

Now I thought that I’d get married like a lot of foolish men.
I found the girl, I bought the ring, got married there and then.
But when the job was over I was taken down a peg
For her hair, her eyes, her teeth were false
And she’d a wooden leg.

But I can’t change it, I can’t change it,
It was a great surprise to me, ‘twas half a woman and half a tree,
For I can’t change it, no matter how I try,
But I’ll chop her up for firewood in the sweet bye and bye.

Now when I came home this afternoon, the nurse stood at the door
She says “You’ve got another one, which makes it just the score.
It’s such a pretty little girl, I’ll know you’ll wish it joy.
I wish it to Old Nick for what I wanted was a boy.

But I can’t change it, I can’t change it,
I ask a lot who ought to know. I asked the nurse and she said “No”.
I can’t change it, no matter how I try,
But I hope you’ll have a dozen more in the sweet bye and bye.”

Quote from northsider on September 10, 2008, 7:55 am

Thanks Peter,
It was Bright Silvery Light for sure, I think he added the line about half a tree right at the end. I appreciate the help!