Daisy Bell (On a Bicycle Built for Two) (Harry Dacre, 1892) (C)
This a popular song is said to have been inspired by Frances Evelyn "Daisy" Greville, Countess of Warwick, one of the many mistresses of King Edward VII. The song was originally recorded and released by Dan W. Quinn in 1893. It is the earliest song sung using computer speech synthesis by the IBM 7094 in 1961, a feat which was referenced in the film 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968).

David Ewen writes in American Popular Songs:
     When Dacre, an English popular composer, first came to the United States, he brought with him a bicycle, for which he was charged import duty. His friend William Jerome, another songwriter, remarked lightly: "It's lucky you didn't bring a bicycle built for two, otherwise you'd have to pay double duty." Dacre was so taken with the phrase "bicycle built for two" that he soon used it in a song. That song, Daisy Bell, first became successful in a London music hall, in a performance by Katie Lawrence. Tony Pastor was the first to sing it in the United States. Its success in America began when Jennie Lindsay brought down the house with it at the Atlantic Gardens on the Bowery early in 1892.

Following the success of "Daisy Bell," Dacre wrote "Fare You Well, Daisy Bell" (1894).
Daisy Bell (On a Bicycle Built for Two), Wikipedia; The Woman Behind The Song “Daisy Bell” Wasn’t Even Named Daisy! by Rose Heichelbech.

Daisy Bell (On a Bicycle Built for Two) by "Sheet Music Singer" (All 3 verses plus chorus)

Daisy Bell (On a Bicycle Built for Two) by The Elm City Four quartet (chorus and first verse)

Daisy Bell (On a Bicycle Built for Two) by The Eton Boys quartet (1930s) (Chorus and first verse ... )

Daisy Bell (On a Bicycle Built for Two) by Nat King Cole (1963)(Chorus)

Daisy Bell (On a Bicycle Built for Two) by a IBM 7094, the first computer to sing Daisy Bell (1961)

Daisy Bell by the HAL 9000 from the movie "2001: A Space Odyssey" as HAL is being "powered down" (Video clip)

Sheet Music:

Daisy Bell (Bicycle Built For Two) Sheet Music.pdf

Switched and Hitched

Harry, Harry, here is your answer true.

I'd be crazy to marry a jerk like you.

There'll never be any marriage

If you can't afford a carriage

And I'll be switched*, if I'd get hitched

On a bicycle built for two.

     *As in “hit with a switch”

Harry, Harry, here is your answer true.

I'm not crazy all for the love of you.

There won't be any marriage,

If you can't afford a carriage.

'Cause I'll be switched, If I get hitched,

On a bicycle built for two!

Michael, Michael, this is my answer true.

I'm not crazy over the likes of you.

If you can't afford a carriage,

There will not be a marriage.

For I'll be switched if I'll be hitched ,

On a bicycle built for two.

Michael, Michael, here is my answer true!

You're half crazy, if you think that that will do!

If you can't afford a carriage, there won't be any marriage,

'Cause I'll be switched if I'll get hitched,

On a bicycle built for two.

Richard, Richard, here is your answer true.

You're half crazy if you think that will do.

If you can't afford a carriage,

There won't be any marriage.

Cause I'll be switched, if I'll be hitched

On a bicycle built for two.

Maxie, Maxie, here is your answer true:

I'm not crazy enough for the likes of you.

If you can't afford a carriage,

There won't be any marriage,

'Cause I'll be switched if I'll be hitched*

On a bicycle built for two.

A Black Maria or Mariah

Daisy, Daisy the coppers are after you,

If they catch you, you know what they will do.

They'll tie you up with wire

Inside a Black Maria*

So ring your bell and pedal like hell

On a bicycle made for two!

     *Police Car

Daisy, Daisy, the coppers are after you,

If they catch you they'll give you a month or two,

They'll tie you up wi’ wire, behind a Black Maria

So ring your bell and pedal like hell,

On your bicycle made for two.

Daisy, Daisy, the coppers are after you.

If they catch you, You know what they're goin' ta do?

They'll tie you up with wire

Behind the Black Maria,

So ring your bell and ride like hell

On that bicycle built for two.

Daisy, Daisy, the coppers are after you,

If they catch you they’ll give you a bump or two.

They’ll tie you up with wire

Behind the Black Mariah

So ring your bell and peddle like hell

On a bicycle made for two.

Daisy, Daisy, the cops 'll be after you,

If they catch you, they'll give you a month or two,

They'll tie you up with wire

Inside a Black Maria

So ring your bell and peddle like Hell

On your bicycle built for two.

Damned and Crammed

Michael, Michael, here is your answer true:

I won't cycle, all for the love of you.

If you can't afford a carriage,

There won't be any marriage.

'Cause I'll be damned, if I'll be crammed

On a bicycle built for two.

     *or jammed or slammed?

Maxie, Maxie, here is your answer true:

I'm not crazy all for the likes of you.

If we can't afford a carriage,

There won't be any marriage,

'Cause I'll be damned if I'll be crammed

On a bicycle built for two.

Harry, Harry, here is my answer true

I'd be crazy to run away with you

You can forget the marriage

With or without the carriage.

And I'll be damned if I'll be crammed

On a bicycle built for two!

Jimmy, Jimmy, here is your answer to...

I'd be crazy to marry the likes of you

If you can't afford a carriage

then let's forget the marriage

'cause I'll be dammed if I'll be crammed

On a bicycle built for two!

Michael, Michael, here is your answer true.

I don't fancy any the likes of you.

If you can't afford a carriage,

There won't be any marriage,

'Cause I'll be damned, if I'll be crammed

On a bicycle built for two!

Assorted

Peter, Peter, here is your answer true.

I'd be crazy, to marry a lad like you.

If you can't afford a carriage -

there won't be any marriage.

And I'd be dead, before I'd wed

On a bicycle built for two.

Barkeep, Barkeep, give me your answer true:

I'm half crazy over the foamy brew.

I haven't got any money,

But wouldn't it look funny,

Me staring at you, across the bar,

Without a drink in my hand.

Daisy, Daisy, give me your answer do.

I'm half crazy, just to make love to you.

You make me all hot and sexy,

So let us call a taxi.

My kind of fun, just can't be done

On a bicycle built for two.

Michael, Michael, here is my answer true.

I won't cycle, it leaves me all black and blue.

There won't be any marriage,

If you don't get a carriage.

.For I'll be blowed, if I'll be stowed

On a bicycle made for two

Daisy, Daisy, what do you think I did?

Slipped on the jam, tripped over the pram,

And nearly murdered the kid.

The kid began to bubble,

So I hit it with a shovel.

You look neat washing your feet

In a bucket of Irish stew.

Daisy, Daisy, turn in your Cadillac.

It was stolen, so you must give it back.

You haven't got any papers.

You gave the judge the vapors.

We're sorry, ma'am, you face the slam

'Cause your Cadillac's hot. Adieu!

“Here in Detroit in the 1980s, a city councilwoman whose name really was Daisy was convicted of possessing a stolen car, whereupon one of my colleagues on the city desk, wrote the [above].”

Charlie, Charlie, Here is my answer true.

I'm not crazy all for the love of you.

If you can't afford a carriage

There won't be any marriage.

'Cause I'll be loather*, If I’m bethroated**

On a bicycle built for two!

     (footnotes missing)

Maggie Thatcher the miners are after you.

If they catch you they'll give you a year or two.

They'll tie you up with wire,

And set your arse on fire.

So ring your bell & pedal like hell

'Cos the miners are after you.

     - "Circa 1984, Co. Durham"

Daisy, Daisy, the bicycle's blown a tire;

So we got a tin of Golden Fleece and set thing on fire.

The fire-hose wouldn't reach,

And it's burning like peach.

So run like hell jump in the canal

And paddle to Elwood Beach.

Mary, Mary, lived with her aunt in Kew,

Big and hairy, she stood about six foot two.

I told her we'd never marry,

She changed her name to 'Harry'

Now her big feet, they pound the beat

'Cos she's one of our 'Boys in Blue'

Daisy, Daisy, will we ever be wed?

You're so lazy, you never get out of the bed.

And should there ever be a marriage,

They won't be any carriage.

It'll be quite neat, to go down our street

On a bicycle when we get wed.

But Padraig, dear Padraig, then I can't marry you,

'Coz I can't cycle, and I'm in the family way too;

And if you're not getting a carriage,

Then you'll not be getting a marriage,

For I'll be damned, if I will be crammed

On a bicycle made for two!

Daisy, Daisy, give me your answer do!

I'm half crazy all for the love of you!

It won't be a stylish wedding,

I can't afford a bedding.

But you'll look sweet washing your feet

On the banks of the river Fleet!

Note: The river Fleet is an old London river, with its source in Hampstead. It had, however, been effectively a sewer for some hundreds of years, and most of it was covered over well before the Daisy Bell was written (or the invention of the bicycle).

Michael, Michael, here is my answer, dear.

I won't cycle because it hurts my rear.

If you can't afford a carriage,

There won't be a bloomin' marriage.

'Coz I'll be blowed if I'll be towed

On a bicycle built for two

"Dear Mr. Cyclist, have I got news for you:

I'm not crazy about what you want to do.

If you can't afford a carriage,

There won't be any marriage.

In my bridal gown, I'd look like a clown

On a bicycle made for two."

– Bill from Bedford

Daisy, Daisy, send me some email, do.

I'm half-crazy all for a byte of you.

I can't afford a modem,

I don't know how to code 'em.

But you'd look good, upon a node,

Of the internet built for two.

[Insert male name, twice], here is your email true.

I'd be crazy to interface with you.

Why don't you get a clue be-

Fore ranting like a newbie.

And I'll be damned, if I'll be spammed

On an internet built for two.

– Gerry

Daisy, Daisy read my chain letter do.

Though I'm crazy, I swear it all is true.

Then send it to five others,

Their sisters and their brothers.

And you will stash a lot of cash

Off this e-mail I sent to you

Moron, moron, I read your chain letter through.

I'd be crazy to do what you said to do.

So take your bloody spamming,

Dispose of it by cramming.

I hope you're flamed by all those named

When the letter comes back to you.

– Jeri Corlew

But the man who proposed has the last entry:

Daisy, Daisy, now that you've answered no.
Where's your sister? Maybe she'd like to go.
I'll keep asking girls at random,
Till someone likes my tandem.
Before I'm dead I will be wed
On a bicycle built for two.