Small Fry Songtext
von Hoagy Carmichael

Small fry, struttin′ by the pool room
Small fry, should be in the school room
My, my, put down that cigarette
You ain't a grown-up, high and mighty yet
Small fry, dancin′ for a penny
Small fry, countin' up how many
My, my, now you just listen here to me
You ain't the biggest catfish in the sea

You practice peckin′ all day long
To some old radio song
Oh yes, I peck, oh yes
Now you better listen to your pa
And someday practice upon the law
Then you′ll be a real success


Small fry, now you kissed the neighbor's daughter
Small fry, get on back in the shallow water
Seems I should take you cross my knee
′Cause you ain't the biggest catfish in the sea
You got your feet all soakin′ wet
Lord, you'll be the death of me yet
Oh me, oh my, small fry

You call me small fry
You call me small fry
My, my, my, my, my, I never heard such carryin′ on
You better look in the closet, ma, I bet the gin is all gone
Oh, small fry

I saw you out there bettin' on those ponies

Tall fry, you know that you picked all the phonies
My, my, my, my, now you just listen here to me
I know, I know, I know, I know

I ain't the biggest catfish in the sea, you said that before
You got a pinochle deck in your pocket
What happened to ma′s wedding ring, did you hock it?
Oh yes, oh, not so loud, oh yes

You signed your own report card last night now, didn′t you?
Well, why don't you learn how to write?
And then you′ll be a real success
Yes, yes, yes


Small fry, now you kissed the neighbor's daughter
Well, I gave her a small smack
But quiet, pappy, you the one who taught her
Seems I should take you cross my knee
Now you ain′t the biggest catfish in the sea

I know how to fix this boy
Is that castor oil around here?
I just slipped it in your beer
Oh me, oh my, small fry