Paul Petersen: She Can’t Find Her Keys

Nowadays when we hear from Paul Petersen, it is usually because something bad happened to a child star. Back in the 1950s, Petersen was a child star himself, starting out as a Mouseketeer and becoming a teen idol on “The Donna Reed Show” as Jeff Stone. Paul recorded a couple of albums during that time, and had a big hit with a song called “My Dad.” This novelty song wasn’t a big hit, but it’s still a cute song all the same for its lyrics.

The music was written by Wally Gold, also known for his contribution to Lesley Gore’s “It’s My Party.” The lyrics were written by Roy Alfred, who also wrote a Jay & The Americans hit, “Let’s Lock the Door.”

When I take my baby home at night
I can’t wait to kiss and hold her tight
But by then the time begins to drag
When she starts searching through her bag

She says “just a moment please, I can’t find my keys”
And here’s what happens while he’s waiting for her squeeze —

She pulls out lipstick, powder, bubble gum and bobby pins
But she can’t find her keys
Curlers, tweezers, cold cream and candy bars
But she can’t find her keys “her keys”
Nail file, school books, an autograph of Fabian
She can find with ease
But I’m standing here waiting for a goodnight kiss
Cause she can’t find her keys

Sha da sha da sha da, she can’t find her keys

I give up go home and go to sleep
But next night, my date with her I keep
Walk her home, we start to kiss and then
It all starts happening again —

She says “just a moment please, I can’t find my keys”
And here’s what happens while he’s waiting for her squeeze —

She pulls out gumdrops, glasses, magazines and tangerines
But she can’t find her keys
Presley records, hair spray and jelly beans
But she can’t find her keys
Eyebrow pencils, perfume and potato chips and portable batteries
But I’m standing here waiting for a goodnight kiss
Cause she can’t find her keys.

But he’s standing here waiting for a goodnight kiss
Cause she can’t find her keys

She pulls out frozen custard, piano bench, pretzels and a monkey wrench
Tennis racket, army cots, pumpkin seeds and coffee pots
Watermelons, goal post, a rabbit’s foot and French toast
Fire hydrant, ash can and TV set, electric fan
BUT SHE CAN’T FIND HER KEYS!