“I Wish I Was Single Again”
Every evening Pa played the fiddle, and now Mr. Boast’s and Mrs. Boast’s beautiful voices rounded out the singing. Gaily Pa played and they sang… — By the Shores of Silver Lake, Chapter 22, “Happy Winter Days”
I Wish I Was Single Again (often “I Wish I Were Single Again”) was written by J.C. Beckel in 1871. James Cox Beckel (1811-1880) was a Philadelphia church organist and composer. This popular comedic song was a welcome contrast to the sentimental ballads of the Reconstruction era.
In the manuscript for By the Shores of Silver Lake, Laura Ingalls Wilder wrote that “Pa never sang all of that song. His eyes would twinkle at Ma. The music would change and Pa would sing: “She can make a cherry pie, Billy boy, Billy boy…” As can be seen from the original lyrics below, “I Wish I Was Single Again” didn’t exactly extol the virtues of marriage. No wonder the lyrics were slightly altered for publication!
1. I wish I were single, O then, O then!
I wish I were single, O then!
When I was single my pockets did jingle,
And I wish I were single again.
2. When I was single, O then, O then!
When I was single, O then!
I lived at my ease and I went where I pleased,
And I wish I were single again.
3. I married a wife, O then. O then!
I married a wife, O then!
I married a wife, she’s the plague of my life,
And I wish I were single again.
4. And now I am married. O then. O then!
And now I am married, O then!
If I go anywhere, my wife’s sure to be there,
And I wish I were single again.
5. When my wife died, O then. O then!
When my wife died, O then!
When my wife died, I’ll be hanged if I cried,
So glad to be single again.
6. I went to the funeral. O then, O then!
I went to the funeral, O then!
The music did play, and I danced all the way,
So glad to be single again.
(continued next column)
7. I married another. O then. O then!
I married another. O then!
I married another, she’s worse than the other!
And I wish I were single again.
8. Now all ye young men, O then. O then!
Now all ye young men, O then!
Be kind to your first, or the last will prove worse!
And you’ll wish for the old one again!
I WISH I WAS SINGLE AGAIN (from By the Shores of Silver Lake)
When I was young and single,
I could make the money jingle
And the world went well with me then, O then!
I married me a wife, O then! O then!
I married me a wife, O then!
I married me a wife, she was the joy of my life,
And the world went well with me then!
CLICK HERE to listen.
Click on the above images to view a copy of sheet music of “I Wish I Was Single Again.”
“I Wish I Was Single Again” (SSL 26)
“When I was young and single”