Daisy Bell (A Bicycle Built for Two)
People know this song as "Daisy, Daisy", "A Bicycle Built for Two", and as "Daisy Bell". The original name for the song is "Daisy Bell"…
"Daisy Bell" became a hit in 1892. It was written by Englishman Harry Dacre in the US, and there's an interesting story behind it… He came to the US in 1891 with his bicycle. When he landed in New York, the customs officers made him pay a duty on his bike. He was outraged by this and complained about it to people for months to come. One day, a person replied to his complaint, "You're lucky it wasn't a bicycle built for two"! The phrase "bicycle built for two" stuck in Dacre's mind and he wrote the song based on it.
People still sing this song today, though many only know the chorus…
Daisy Bell (A Bicycle Built for Two)
Traditional Song
There is a flower
Within my heart,
Daisy, Daisy!
Planted one day
By a glancing dart,
Planted by Daisy Bell!
Whether she loves me
Or loves me not,
Sometimes it's hard to tell,
Yet I am longing to share the lot
Of beautiful Daisy Bell!
Chorus
Daisy, Daisy,
Give me your answer do!
I'm half crazy,
All for the love of you!
It won't be a stylish marriage,
I can't afford a carriage
But you'll look sweet upon the seat
Of a bicycle built for two.
We will go 'tandem'
As man and wife,
Daisy, Daisy!
"Ped'ling" away
Down the road of life,
I and my Daisy Bell!
When the road's dark
We can both despise
P'licemen and "lamps" as well,
There are "bright lights"
In the dazzling eyes
Of beautiful Daisy Bell!
Daisy, Daisy,
Give me your answer do!
I'm half crazy,
All for the love of you!
It won't be a stylish marriage,
I can't afford a carriage
But you'll look sweet upon the seat
Of a bicycle built for two.
I will stand by you
In "wheel" or woe*,
Daisy, Daisy!
You'll be the bell(e)
Which I'll ring you know,
Sweet little Daisy Bell!
You'll take the "lead"
In each "trip" we take,
Then if I don't do well,
I will permit you to
Use the brake,
My beautiful Daisy Bell!
Daisy, Daisy,
Give me your answer do!
I'm half crazy,
All for the love of you!
It won't be a stylish marriage,
I can't afford a carriage
But you'll look sweet upon the seat
Of a bicycle built for two.
 - American Children's Songs - The USA - Mama Lisa's World: Children's Songs and Rhymes from Around the World
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Notes
"Wheel" is a play on "weal", which means prosperity. "In weal and woe" is a phrase meaning "for better or worse".
Comments
Daisy Bell was the 1st song to be sung by a computer back in 1961.
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