La chanson a été composé par Henry J. Sayers en 1891 (version originale). En 1892 Angelo Asher et Richard Morton recomposait la chanson. Une version néerlandaise et française existe.

A smart and stylish girl you see,
Belle of good society;
Not too strict but rather free,
Yet as right as right can be!
Never forward, never bold,
Not too hot, and not too cold,
But the very thing, I'm told,
That in your arms you'd like to hold!

Tarara Boomdeay (8 fois).

I'm not extravagantly shy,
And when a nice young man is nigh,
For his heart I have a try
And faint away with tearful cry!
When the good young man in haste
Will support me round the waist,
I don't come to, while thus embraced,
Till of my lips he steals a taste!

Tarara, etc.

I'm a timid flower of innocence
Pa says that I have no sense
I'm one eternal big expense;
But men say that I'm just immense.
Ere my verses I conclude,
I'd like it known and understood,
Though free as air, I'm never rude
I'm not too bad, and not too good!

Tarara, etc,