PLEASE LET ME SLEEP ON YOUR DOORSTEP, TONIGHT.
by
Bob Weston and Bert Lee (1930)
performed by
Billy Bennett



'Twas Christmas Eve at midnight
And a tramp with haggard face
Was knocking at the door
Of a rich millionaire's palace.
The rich man in pyjamas
Trimmed with gold and costly fur
Said, 'What are you a-wanting of?
The tramp replied, 'Dear sir,
Please let me sleep on your doorstep tonight,
I'm homeless and cold and the snow's falling white,
The fire through your keyhole looks cosy and bright,
So please let me sleep on your doorstep tonight.'

The rich man said, 'How dare you?'
In a manner cold and chill
And from his freezing nose
He proudly wiped an icicle.
That night while his rich brother
slept on silk sheets trimmed with lace
The poor man slept and then the snowflakes fell
On his cold face.
'Please let me sleep on your doorstep tonight,
I'm homeless and cold and the snow's falling white,
The fire through your keyhole looks cosy and bright,
So please let me sleep on your doorstep tonight.'

The rich man called a constable and said,
'Remove this man.'
He shone his lamp - the rich man cried,
'Why it's my brother Dan!
You want to sleep upon my doorstep,
You my brother Fred,
You shall sleep on my doorstep
I didn't know you when yer said,
"Please let me sleep on your doorstep tonight,
I'm homeless and cold and the snow's falling white,
The fire through your keyhole looks cosy and bright,
So please let me sleep on your doorstep tonight."

The rich man caught pneumonia
Through standing in the cold
And soon at heavens pearly gates
He claimed his wings of gold.
The angel to the rich man said,
'You can't come in, oh no.'
The rich man said,'Well as it's late
and they're full up below,
Please let me sleep on your doorstep tonight,
I'm homeless and cold and the snow's falling white,
The fire through your keyhole looks cosy and bright,
So please let me sleep on your doorstep tonight.'