Oh, Daisy Mae

Intro
(Slow, expressive rubato - voices entering one by one to build a warm chord)
(Bass): Doo-wop, doo-wop...
(Baritone Lead): Back in the days of the lemonade stand...
(Tenor & Lead): Holding my sweetheart’s delicate hand...
(Full Quartet - ringing chord hold): Oh, how the time flies by!
​[Verse 1]
(Upbeat, bouncy swing tempo kicks in - Baritone Lead carries the melody while Tenor, Lead, and Bass provide rhythmic "bop-bop" backing)
I slicked back my hair with a nickel of grease
Put on my Sunday best suit with a crease
Walked down the lane to the sycamore tree
Where sweet little Daisy was waiting for me
My knees were a-knocking, my collar was tight
I practiced my speech in the pale lantern light!
​[Pre-Chorus]
(Tight four-part harmony swelling into a classic barbershop seventh chord)
She opened the screen door and gave me a wink
And every fine word that I planned hit the sink!
​[Chorus]
(Full Four-Part Harmony - Joyful, Swinging, Bright)
Oh, Daisy Mae on the front porch swing!
You set my poor old heart to ring!
With a (Bass: Bom-bom-bom) and a (Tenor: Ring-a-ding-ding!)
I couldn't remember a single thing!
Yeah, the moon was high and the night was sweet
I stumbled right over my own two feet
Oh, Daisy Mae, you're the finest catch in town!
​[Verse 2]
(Baritone Lead takes the melody again with playful vocal echo responses from the quartet)
Her daddy came out with a look like a storm (Quartet: Look like a storm!)
Said, "Son, you best keep my little girl warm!" (Quartet: Keep her warm!)
I tipped my straw boater and stuttered, "Yes, sir!"
And spilled all my punch on the rug next to her
She laughed like a melody, clear as a bell
And right in that moment I knew that I fell!
​[Chorus]
(Full Four-Part Harmony - High Energy, Crisp Syncopation)
Oh, Daisy Mae on the front porch swing!
You set my poor old heart to ring!
With a (Bass: Bom-bom-bom) and a (Tenor: Ring-a-ding-ding!)
I couldn't remember a single thing!
Yeah, the moon was high and the night was sweet
I stumbled right over my own two feet
Oh, Daisy Mae, you're the finest catch in town!
​[Bridge]
(Tempo slows slightly - lush, emotional chord progressions, Baritone Lead shines in his rich middle register)
Now fifty long winters have frosted my hair
And that old wooden swing needs a coat of repair
(Tenor soars softly above the Baritone)
Still she sits beside me and holds to my hand
The luckiest fella in all of the land!
​[Chorus - Key Change Up]
(Full Quartet - Maximum Vocal Power, Ringing Overtones)
Oh, Daisy Mae on the front porch swing!
You set my poor old heart to ring!
With a (Bass: Bom-bom-bom) and a (Tenor: Ring-a-ding-ding!)
I still can't remember a single thing!
Yeah, the moon is high and the night is sweet
I'm still tripping over my own two feet
Oh, Daisy Mae, you're the finest catch in town!
​[Outro - Classic Barbershop Tag]
(Slow, dramatic, drawn-out harmonies)
The finest catch... (Tenor holds a high soaring note while Baritone and Lead weave underneath)
In all... of...
(Bass drops down to a booming low note) Town!
(Long, ringing four-part chord hold until fade)