I Don't Care
Words by Jean Lenox, Music by Harry O. Sutton
Words by Jean Lenox, Music by Harry O. Sutton
Note: This text is presented as originally written by Jean Lenox in 1904, and is presented for historical
context only, with no intent of offending anybody as a result of racial slurs or certain politics.
context only, with no intent of offending anybody as a result of racial slurs or certain politics.
Verse 1: They say I'm crazy, got no sense, but I don't care.
They may or may not mean offense, but I don't care,
You see I'm sort of independent, of a clever race descendant,
My star is on the ascendant, that's why I don't care.
They may or may not mean offense, but I don't care,
You see I'm sort of independent, of a clever race descendant,
My star is on the ascendant, that's why I don't care.
Chorus 1: I don't care, I don't care,
What they may think of me.
I'm happy go lucky, men say I am plucky,
So jolly and care free.
I don't care, I don't care,
If I do get the mean and stony stare.
If I'm never successful, it won't be distressful,
'Cos I don't care.
What they may think of me.
I'm happy go lucky, men say I am plucky,
So jolly and care free.
I don't care, I don't care,
If I do get the mean and stony stare.
If I'm never successful, it won't be distressful,
'Cos I don't care.
Verse 2: Some people say I think I'm it, but I don't care,
They say they don't like me a bit, but I don't care,
'Cos my good nature effervescing, is one, there is no distressing,
My spirit there is no oppressing, just 'cos I don't care.
They say they don't like me a bit, but I don't care,
'Cos my good nature effervescing, is one, there is no distressing,
My spirit there is no oppressing, just 'cos I don't care.
Chorus 2: I don't care, I don't care,
If people don't like me,
I'll try to outlive it, I know I'll forgive it,
And live contentedly.
I don't care, I don't care,
If people do not try to treat me fair.
There is naught can amaze me, dislike can not daze me,
'Cos I don't care.
If people don't like me,
I'll try to outlive it, I know I'll forgive it,
And live contentedly.
I don't care, I don't care,
If people do not try to treat me fair.
There is naught can amaze me, dislike can not daze me,
'Cos I don't care.
Verse 3: If I call on a friend and she's "not in," why, I don't care,
I simply discover I need some pins, 'cos I don't care;
Her feeble slight does but amuse me, nothing like it could confuse me,
To hand it back none could induce me, just 'cos I don't care.
I simply discover I need some pins, 'cos I don't care;
Her feeble slight does but amuse me, nothing like it could confuse me,
To hand it back none could induce me, just 'cos I don't care.
Chorus 3: I don't care, I don't care,
If she did mean to snub,
I'm feeling so jolly, 'twould be simple folly,
To even feel the "rub."
I don't care, I don't care,
If I do call on her and she's not there;
If she can't say "Hello," she's not a good fellow,
And I don't care.
If she did mean to snub,
I'm feeling so jolly, 'twould be simple folly,
To even feel the "rub."
I don't care, I don't care,
If I do call on her and she's not there;
If she can't say "Hello," she's not a good fellow,
And I don't care.
Verse 4: They say my hair's in silly style, but I don't care,
They but amuse me all the while, 'cos I don't care;
You see my hair with me's a fixture, and it's color's not a mixture,
When they call me living picture, surely I don't care.
They but amuse me all the while, 'cos I don't care;
You see my hair with me's a fixture, and it's color's not a mixture,
When they call me living picture, surely I don't care.
Chorus 4: I don't care, I don't care,
If my hair is not dressed swell;
I've got no kick coming - it's vastly becoming,
And suits my face so well;
I don't care, I don't care,
I know that style like mine is mighty rare,
So no one can "Phase" me, by calling me "Crazy,"
'Cos I don't care.
If my hair is not dressed swell;
I've got no kick coming - it's vastly becoming,
And suits my face so well;
I don't care, I don't care,
I know that style like mine is mighty rare,
So no one can "Phase" me, by calling me "Crazy,"
'Cos I don't care.
Verse 5: this is the time for politics, but I don't care,
The winning man each party picks, but I don't care;
O'er new recruits each is effusive, for that chair is Oh! so elusive,
But one can win, that is conclusive, that's why I don't care.
The winning man each party picks, but I don't care;
O'er new recruits each is effusive, for that chair is Oh! so elusive,
But one can win, that is conclusive, that's why I don't care.
Chorus 5: I don't care, I don't care,
Which of the two does win,
There's Ted whose's a wonder, and ne'er makes a blunder,
I know he won't begin;
I don't care, I don't care,
There's no doubt that they're a mighty even pair,
Either Parker or Teddy we'll welcome when ready,
And I don't care.
Which of the two does win,
There's Ted whose's a wonder, and ne'er makes a blunder,
I know he won't begin;
I don't care, I don't care,
There's no doubt that they're a mighty even pair,
Either Parker or Teddy we'll welcome when ready,
And I don't care.
Verse 6: Judge Parker's friends say he will win, but I don't care,
But Teddy's friends say he is "in," and I don't care,
But if Teddy is elected, one good man is being rejected,
Parker's sure to be respected, that's why I don't care.
But Teddy's friends say he is "in," and I don't care,
But if Teddy is elected, one good man is being rejected,
Parker's sure to be respected, that's why I don't care.
Chorus 6: I don't care, I don't care,
Who gets majority,
He'll be mighty lucky - I know he'll be plucky,
And happy ought to be,
I don't care, I don't care,
Who gets into the Presidential chair,
Each one will be loyal, and treat us "right royal,"
So I don't care.
Who gets majority,
He'll be mighty lucky - I know he'll be plucky,
And happy ought to be,
I don't care, I don't care,
Who gets into the Presidential chair,
Each one will be loyal, and treat us "right royal,"
So I don't care.
Verse 7: The trusts they say are doomed to die, but I don't care,
To crush them out young Hearst will try, and I don't care,
He thinks the Journal rules the nation, that he has been our sole salvation,
Has he bumps of imagination? Surely I don't care.
To crush them out young Hearst will try, and I don't care,
He thinks the Journal rules the nation, that he has been our sole salvation,
Has he bumps of imagination? Surely I don't care.
Chorus 7: I don't care, I don't care,
If folks say he has 'em bad,
He went out for glory - its quite a sad story,
He came back "to the bad,"
I don't care, I don't care,
If what I'm saying makes the dear boy swear,
His hopes were many - his chances - not any,
But I don't care.
If folks say he has 'em bad,
He went out for glory - its quite a sad story,
He came back "to the bad,"
I don't care, I don't care,
If what I'm saying makes the dear boy swear,
His hopes were many - his chances - not any,
But I don't care.
Verse 8: Kuroki is a wiry Jap, but I don't care,
For Russians he don't give a snap, and I don't care,
He's small - but he knows fighting science, in him Japan does place reliance,
In Russia's face he flings defiance, that's why I don't care.
For Russians he don't give a snap, and I don't care,
He's small - but he knows fighting science, in him Japan does place reliance,
In Russia's face he flings defiance, that's why I don't care.
Chorus 8: I don't care, I don't care,
How much ammunition's used,
The Czar's hopes are fleeting - his army depleting,
And Nick feels so abused,
I don't care, I don't care,
How much he tells the little Jap "Beware!"
Ever since the beginning, they've kept right on winning,
So I don't care.
How much ammunition's used,
The Czar's hopes are fleeting - his army depleting,
And Nick feels so abused,
I don't care, I don't care,
How much he tells the little Jap "Beware!"
Ever since the beginning, they've kept right on winning,
So I don't care.
