Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago

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A popular song from 1910
Words by Bobby Heath
Music by Gus A. Benkhart

Sung by Laurence Rubenstein
Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne

Get the sheet music and accompaniment here:
sheetmusicsinger.com/ask-her-while-shes-smiling

Lyrics

1. A lonesome little Billy boy
Said to his little pal
“Everything is wrong with me
I called upon my little girl and found her
Oh, so blue, Sitting ‘neath a shady tree
I ventured Dolly darling, dear it’s time to wed
Dolly said, “What ails your head?”
Believe me Dolly’s answer made me turn all red
But Billy’s “pally” only said

CHORUS
Ask her while she’s smiling
While there’s love-light in her eye
Ask her while she’s smiling
That’s the only time to try
Don’t you try proposing
when she’s looking very blue
But just ask her while she’s smiling
And she’ll smile on you

2. Billy took a notion
He would wait until she smiled
He was lonesome as could be
But every time he called around
He found her just the same
Pining ‘neath that same old tree
One night he whispered
“Dolly are you always blue
Tell me true, say won’t you
Change your manner Dearie
For a day or two
Dolly Dear cause I love you”

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