This sheet music cover for a song published in 1919 that became a "smash hit." I know it from the Judy Garland movie, For Me And My Gal. It has been sung in other movies. Perhaps you've heard it? The soldier boys of World War I had returned home from battle in Europe. Many of them were no longer satisfied to work on the farm as their parents and grandparents had. Much has been written about this post-war cultural shift.
Popular vaudeville artist Nora Bayes sings it here. No date given, but I imagine it was near the time of the 1919 release by Joe Young, Sam E. Lewis (lyric's) and Walter Donaldson (music). Hear it as it was sung 105 years ago:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=
A 1936 VERSION: Thanks to Michael R. for sharing this from The Our Gang Follies of 1936:
The song's lyrics:
Reuben, Reuben, I've been thinking
Said his wifey dear
Now that all is peaceful and calm
The boys will soon be back on the farm
Mister Reuben started winking and slowly rubbed his chin
He pulled his chair up close to mother
And he asked her with a grin:
"How ya gonna keep 'em down on the farm
After they've seen Paree'
How ya gonna keep 'em away from Broadway
Jazzing around and painting the town
How ya gonna keep 'em away from harm, that's a mystery
Imagine Reuben when he meets his Pa
He'll kiss his cheek and holler "OO-LA-LA"!
How ya gonna keep 'em down on the farm
After they've seen Paree'
How ya gonna keep 'em down on the farm
After they've seen Paree'
How ya gonna keep 'em away from Broadway
Jazzing around and painting the town
How ya gonna keep 'em away from harm, that's a mystery
They'll never want to see a rake or plow
And who the heck can parleyvous a cow?
How ya gonna keep 'em down on the farm
After they've seen Paree'
SOURCE:
By Waterson, Berlin & Snyder Co. - http://libx.bsu.edu/cdm/ref/collection/ShtMus/id/725, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=35629174