Now Percy Wilson Gay left his wife every day Then she would always say, be home on time
Don't have me waiting here when dinnertime comes near
Be here when we sit down to dine He promised her he would, then swore that
he'd be good But Percy never could quite settle down
For when his work was through he'd find a friend or two
Then they'd just play around the town He'd call his wife upon the telephone
And this is what he'd say to her at home
Hang out the front door key, love Hang out the front door key
You need not wait up for me, dear I may be out till three
I'm with a poor sick friend, love Who'd do the same for me
Oh, keep a light in the hall tonight Hang out the front door key
Well, that night when he got home He found himself alone
Where his little wife had gone he knew not where
Although he served him right to get an awful fright
To think he could not find her there She called him up at three
And said, look, yes, dear, there she's me How does it seem to be at home all alone?
I'm with some friends of mine I'm having a whale of a time
And I don't know just when I'll be at home On the table there he found a little note
He opened it and this is what she wrote
Hang out the front door key, love Hang out the front door key
You need not wait up for me, dear I know I'll be out till three
For I'm with a poor sick boyfriend Just like you used to be
Oh, keep a light in the hall tonight Hang out the front door key