Lyrics:
I Wish I Was Single Again [Version (a)]:
I wish I was single again
I wish I was single again
For when I was single, my pockets did jingle
Oh I wish I was single again
I married me a wife, oh then
I married me a wife, oh then
I married me a wife and she ruined my life
Oh I wish I was single again
She took a fever, oh then
She took a fever, oh then
She took a fever, if she don't die I'll leave her
Oh I wish I was single again
My wife, she died, oh then
My wife, she died, oh then
My wife, she died and I laughed 'til I cried
To think I was single again
I went to the funeral, oh then
I went to the funeral, oh then
I went to the funeral and I danced Yankee Doodle
To think I was single again
I married me another, oh then
I married me another, oh then
I married me another, she's the devil's grandmother
Oh I wish I was single again
She beats me, she bangs me, oh then
She beats me, she bangs me, oh then
She beats me and bangs me and swears she will hang me
Oh I wish I was single again
Well she went for a rope, oh then
She went for a rope, oh then
She went for a rope, when she got there it was broke
I wish I was single again
Then she went for a hammer, oh then
She went for a hammer, oh then
She went for a hammer and I'll kill her god-bless her
Oh I wish I was single again
I wish I was single again
I wish I was single again
For when I was single, my pockets did jingle
Oh I wish I was single again
I married me a wife, oh then
I married me a wife, oh then
I married me a wife and she ruined my life
Oh I wish I was single again
She took a fever, oh then
She took a fever, oh then
She took a fever, if she don't die I'll leave her
Oh I wish I was single again
My wife, she died, oh then
My wife, she died, oh then
My wife, she died and I laughed 'til I cried
To think I was single again
I went to the funeral, oh then
I went to the funeral, oh then
I went to the funeral and I danced Yankee Doodle
To think I was single again
I married me another, oh then
I married me another, oh then
I married me another, she's the devil's grandmother
Oh I wish I was single again
She beats me, she bangs me, oh then
She beats me, she bangs me, oh then
She beats me and bangs me and swears she will hang me
Oh I wish I was single again
Well she went for a rope, oh then
She went for a rope, oh then
She went for a rope, when she got there it was broke
I wish I was single again
Then she went for a hammer, oh then
She went for a hammer, oh then
She went for a hammer and I'll kill her god-bless her
Oh I wish I was single again
The Song:
In order for it to feel more authentic, Beck filled out his Song Reader book with fragments of songs and melodies, as well as fictional album collections and song titles. The back of "Saint Dude" lists five such albums, and "I Wish I Was Single Again" is part of The Manly Family Song Album, and is copyrighted.
Many of the titles on the back of "Saint Dude" are references to older songs, and "I Wish I Was Single Again" is, somewhat surprisingly, one. I say 'surprisingly' because it definitely reads as a joke, being part of a "manly" album, but looks to have been a relatively big hit, covered by a bunch of artists in the '30s, '40s and '50s. It's a crazy song. They don't write songs like this anymore (probably rightly so).
In order for it to feel more authentic, Beck filled out his Song Reader book with fragments of songs and melodies, as well as fictional album collections and song titles. The back of "Saint Dude" lists five such albums, and "I Wish I Was Single Again" is part of The Manly Family Song Album, and is copyrighted.
Many of the titles on the back of "Saint Dude" are references to older songs, and "I Wish I Was Single Again" is, somewhat surprisingly, one. I say 'surprisingly' because it definitely reads as a joke, being part of a "manly" album, but looks to have been a relatively big hit, covered by a bunch of artists in the '30s, '40s and '50s. It's a crazy song. They don't write songs like this anymore (probably rightly so).