I had a sister Nellie, boys,
And nothing else would do'er,
But she must join the talent show
And be an 'amature.'
We stayed at home to figger out
Jes' how to spend her dough,
That they'd pay her for singin' songs
Acrost the radio.
We planned to build a swimming pool
Around the old home place.
We aimed to lift the morgaridge
And sister Suzy's face.
Our rosy dreams is shattered now
An' ev'rything's gone wrong.
There ain't no joy at our house
Since Nellie got the gong.

We told our frien's and neighbors, too,
And fam'ly ev'rywhere,
To listen in on Friday night,
To Nellie on the air.
We gathered 'round the radio
To hear her sing her song,
But 'fore she'd even started out,
Some rascal rung the gong.
Then Father sez to Mother,
When he heard them ring the bell,
"Them doggone city slickers, Ma,
Ain't doin' right by Nell!"
Our rosy dreams is shattered now
An' ev'rything's gone wrong.
There ain't no joy (or swimming pool)
Since Nellie got the gong.