Music hall songs
Encyclopedia
There are a very large number of music hall songs, and most of them have been forgotten. In London between 1900 and 1910, a single publishing company, Francis, Day and Hunter, published between forty and fifty songs a month.
Music hall songs were sung in the music halls by a variety of artistes. Most of them were comic in nature. They number in their tens of thousands and include the following:
Music hall songs were sung in the music halls by a variety of artistes. Most of them were comic in nature. They number in their tens of thousands and include the following:
- "After the BallAfter the Ball (song)After the Ball is a popular song written in 1891 by Charles K. Harris. The song is a classic waltz in 3/4 time. In the song, an older man tells his niece why he has never married. He saw his sweetheart kissing another man at a ball, and he refused to listen to her explanation...
" (Charles K. HarrisCharles K. HarrisCharles Kassel Harris was a well regarded American songwriter of popular music. During his long career, he advanced the relatively new genre, publishing more than 300 songs, often deemed by admirers as the "king of the tear jerkers"...
) - "Any Old IronAny Old Iron (song)"Any Old Iron" is an old British Music hall song written by Charles Collins, Fred Terry and E.A. Sheppard. The song was made famous by Harry Champion, who sang it as part of his act and recorded it....
" (music by Charles Collins; lyrics by Terry Sheppard) sung by Harry ChampionHarry ChampionWilliam Crump , better known by the stage name Harry Champion, was an English music hall composer, singer and Cockney comedian, whose onstage persona appealed chiefly to the working class communities of East London...
. - "Boiled Beef and CarrotsBoiled Beef and Carrots"Boiled Beef and Carrots" is a comedic musical hall song published in 1909, and composed by Charles Collins and Fred Murray.The song was made famous by Harry Champion who sang it as part of his act and recorded it...
" (Charles Collins and Fred MurrayFred MurrayFrederick Anthony "Fred" Murray is an Irish footballer currently playing for Luton Town.-Career:...
) sung by Harry Champion. - "The Boy I Love is up in the GalleryThe Boy I Love Is up in the Gallery"The Boy I Love Is Up in the Gallery" is a music hall song written for the music hall star Miss Nelly Power by George Ware in 1885, and made famous by Marie Lloyd...
" (George Ware) sung by Nellie Power and Marie LloydMarie LloydMatilda Alice Victoria Wood was an English music hall singer, best known as Marie Lloyd. Her ability to add lewdness to the most innocent of lyrics led to frequent clashes with the guardians of morality...
. - "Burlington Bertie from BowBurlington Bertie"Burlington Bertie" is a music hall song composed by Harry B. Norris in 1900 and sung by Vesta Tilley. It concerns an aristocratic young idler who pursues a life of leisure in the West End of London....
" (William HargreavesWilliam HargreavesWilliam Hargreaves was an English composer, mainly of songs for the music hall. His most famous composition was Burlington Bertie From Bow in 1916 but he also wrote Delaney's Donkey, I Know Where the Flies Go , PC 49, We All Went Marching Home Again, They Built Piccadilly For Me and Give My...
) sung by Ella ShieldsElla ShieldsElla Shields was a music hall singer and male-impersonator. Her famous signature song, "Burlington Bertie from Bow", written by her manager and first husband, William Hargreaves, was an immediate hit. Though American-born, Ella achieved her greatest success in England.-Biography:Ella Shields was...
. - "Daddy Wouldn't Buy Me a Bow WowDaddy Wouldn't Buy Me a Bow Wow"Daddy Wouldn’t Buy Me a Bow Wow" is a song written in 1892 by prolific English songwriter Joseph Tabrar.It was written for, and first performed in 1892 by, Vesta Victoria at the South London Palace, holding a kitten. The same year it was recorded by Silas Leachman for the North American Phonograph...
" (Joseph TabrarJoseph TabrarJoseph Tabrar was one of the most famous songwriters of British music hall , probably most famous for the song "Daddy Wouldn't Buy Me a Bow Wow" ....
) sung by Vesta VictoriaVesta VictoriaVesta Victoria was an English music hall singer and comedian. Although born in Leeds, Yorkshire, Vesta adopted a Cockney persona on stage...
. - "Daisy BellDaisy Bell"Daisy Bell" is a popular song with the well-known chorus "Daisy, Daisy/Give me your answer do/I'm half crazy/all for the love of you" as well as the line "...a bicycle built for two".-History:"Daisy Bell" was composed by Harry Dacre in 1892...
" (Harry DacreHarry DacreHarry Dacre was an English songwriter.Dacre had a hit in 1892 with the song "Daisy Bell" , made famous by Katie Lawrence, and then in 1899 with the song "I'll Be Your Sweetheart"....
) sung by Katie LawrenceKatie LawrenceKatie Lawrence was an English music-hall singer, best known for Harry Dacre's 1890s hit "Daisy Bell."-Appearances in other media:...
. - "Down at the Old Bull and Bush" (music by Harry von TilzerHarry Von TilzerHarry Von Tilzer was a very popular United States songwriter.-Biography:Von Tilzer was born in Goshen, Indiana under the name Aaron Gumbinsky which he shortened to Harry Gumm. He ran away and joined a traveling circus at age 14, where he took his new name by adding 'Von' to his mother's maiden...
; lyrics by Andrew B. SterlingAndrew B. SterlingAndrew B. Sterling was an American lyricist.Born in New York City, after he graduated from high school, he began writing songs and vaudevilles. An important event was his meeting with the composer Harry Von Tilzer in 1898...
) sung by Florrie FordeFlorrie FordeFlorrie Forde , born Flora May Augusta Flannagan, was an Australian popular singer and entertainer. She was one of the greatest stars of the early 20th century music hall....
. - "Goodbye, Dolly Grey" (Paul BarnesPaul BarnesPaul Barnes may refer to:* Paul Barnes , prominent figure of modern UK graphic design* Paul Barnes , American clarinetist and saxophonist* Paul Barnes , English footballer...
; Will. D. Cobb) sung by George Lashwood. - "Has Anybody Here Seen Kelly?Has Anybody Here Seen Kelly?"Has Anybody Here Seen Kelly?", music and lyrics by C.W. Murphy and Will Letters , is a British music hall song, originally titled "Kelly From the Isle of Man". It was adapted for American audiences by William McKenna in 1909 for the American musical The Jolly Bachelors...
" (C.W. Murphy and Will Letters) sung by Florrie Ford. - "Hello, Hello, Who's Your Lady Friend?" (music by Harry FragsonHarry FragsonHarry Fragson was a British music hall singer and comedian, born in Soho, London. While living in Paris, he developed an act involving impressions of French music hall performers, which gradually became popular, allowing him to introduce his own material. He came back to London in 1905 and became...
; lyrics by Worton David and Bert LeeBert LeeBert Lee was an English songwriter. He wrote for music hall and the musical stage, often in partnership with R. P. Weston.Lee was born 11 June 1880 in Ravensthorpe, Yorkshire, England....
) sung by Mark SheridanMark SheridanMark Sheridan born Frederick Shaw was an English music hall comedian and singer. He became a popular singer of lusty seaside songs and was the original performer of the 1909 J.Glover-Kind classic, "I Do Like To be Beside the Seaside"...
. - "Hold Your Hand Out, Naughty Boy" (C.W. Murphy and Will Letters) sung by Florrie Ford.
- "I'm Henery the Eighth, I AmI'm Henery the Eighth, I Am"I'm Henery the Eighth, I Am" is a 1910 British music hall song by Fred Murray and R. P. Weston...
" (1911) http://www.archive.org/download/HarryChampion/HarryChampion-ImHeneryTheEighth.mp3 (Fred MurrayFred MurrayFrederick Anthony "Fred" Murray is an Irish footballer currently playing for Luton Town.-Career:...
and Bert Weston) sung by Harry Champion. - "I Live in Trafalgar Square" (C.W. Murphy) sung by Morny Cash.
- "If It Wasn't For The 'Ouses In Between" (music by George Le Brunn; lyrics by Edgar Bateman) sung by Gus ElenGus ElenErnest Augustus Elen was an English music hall singer and comedian. He achieved success from 1891, performing cockney songs including Arf a Pint of Ale, It's a Great Big Shame, Down the Road and If It Wasn't for the 'Ouses in Between in a career lasting over thirty years.Born in Pimlico, London,...
. - "It's a Bit of a Ruin That Cromwell Knocked About a Bit" (Harry BedfordHarry BedfordHenry "Harry" Bedford was an English professional football player. He scored 326 league goals in 485 games.-Club career:...
; Terry Sullivan) sung by Marie Lloyd. - "It's a Long Way to TipperaryIt's a Long Way to TipperaryIt's a Long Way to Tipperary is a British music hall and marching song written by Jack Judge and co-credited to, but not co-written by, Henry James "Harry" Williams. It was allegedly written for a 5 shilling bet in Stalybridge on 30 January 1912 and performed the next night at the local music hall...
" (1914) http://firstworldwar.com/audio/John%20McCormack%20-%20It's%20A%20Long%20Way%20To%20Tipperary.mp3 (Jack JudgeJack JudgeJack Judge was a song-writer and music-hall entertainer best remembered for writing the song It's a Long, Long Way to Tipperary.- Life :...
and Henry James "Harry" Williams) sung by Florrie Forde. - "Let's All Go Down the Strand" (Harry Castling and C.W. Murphy) sung by Charles R. Whittle.
- "My Old Man (Said Follow the Van)" (Charles CollinsCharles CollinsCharles Collins may refer to:*Charles E. Collins, independent candidate for the president of the United States in 1996 and 2000*Charles Collins , American actor*Charles Collins c.1680–1744, Irish painter...
and Fred W. Leigh) sung by Marie Lloyd. - "Nellie DeanNellie Dean" Nellie Dean" is a sentimental ballad in common time by Henry W. Armstrong, published in 1905 by M. Witmark & Sons of New York City...
" (Henry W. ArmstrongHenry W. ArmstrongHenry W. "Harry" Armstrong was a U.S. boxer, booking agent, producer, singer, pianist and Tin Pan Alley composer.His biggest hit was "Sweet Adeline", written in 1903 with Richard H. Gerard...
) sung by Gertie GitanaGertie GitanaGertie Gitana , was a British music hall entertainer.She was born Gertrude Mary Astbury in Shirley Street, Longport, Stoke-on-Trent. Her father was a pottery works foreman and her mother Lavinia taught at St Peter's RC school in Cobridge...
. - "Oh! It's a lovely warOh, What a Lovely War!Oh, What a Lovely War! is an epic musical originated by Charles Chilton as a radio play, The Long Long Trail in December 1961, and transferred to stage by Gerry Raffles in partnership with Joan Littlewood and her Theatre Workshop in 1963...
" sung by Ella Shields. - "Oh, Mr. Porter" (music by George Le Brunn; lyrics by Thomas Le Brunn) sung by Marie Lloyd.
- "Ta-ra-ra-boom-de-ay" (Harry J. Sayers) sung by Lottie CollinsLottie CollinsLottie Collins was an English singer and dancer, most famous for introducing the song "Ta-ra-ra Boom-de-ay!"-Life:...
. - "The Man Who Broke the Bank of Monte Carlo" (Fred Gilbert) sung by Charles CobornCharles CobornCharles Coborn was a British music hall singer and comedian born in Stepney, east London.He was born Charles Whitton McCallum, and adopted his stage name from Coborn Road, near Mile End...
. - "When Father Papered the Parlour" (Weston and Barnes) sung by Billy WilliamsBilly Williams (music hall performer)Richard Isaac Banks , who changed his name to Billy Williams after leaving his birthplace of Australia, was one of the most recorded popular entertainers of his and indeed of all time. His recordings sold in their thousands long after his early death in 1915...
. - "Where Did You Get That Hat?" (James Rolmaz) sung by J.C Heffron.
- "Waiting At The Church" http://www.archive.org/download/VestaVictoria/VestaVictoria-WaitingattheChurch.mp3 (Henry E. Pether; Frank W. Leigh) sung by Vesta Victoria.
- "Your Baby Has Gone Down The Plughole" (also known as "A Mother's Lament" and "The Angels' Reply") (Writer unknown, but Ian WhitcombIan WhitcombIan Whitcomb is an entertainer, singer, songwriter, author, record producer, and actor...
has stated on the Dr. DementoDr. DementoBarret Eugene Hansen , better known as Dr. Demento, is a radio broadcaster and record collector specializing in novelty songs, comedy, and strange or unusual recordings dating from the early days of phonograph records to the present....
radio show that the song was written by Karl MarxKarl MarxKarl Heinrich Marx was a German philosopher, economist, sociologist, historian, journalist, and revolutionary socialist. His ideas played a significant role in the development of social science and the socialist political movement...
.) (Original singer unknown) Sung by Martin CarthyMartin CarthyMartin Carthy MBE is an English folk singer and guitarist who has remained one of the most influential figures in British traditional music, inspiring contemporaries such as Bob Dylan and Paul Simon and later artists such as Richard Thompson since he emerged as a young musician in the early days...
1964, CreamCream (band)Cream were a 1960s British rock supergroup consisting of bassist/vocalist Jack Bruce, guitarist/vocalist Eric Clapton, and drummer Ginger Baker...
1967, Harry H. CorbettHarry H. CorbettHarry H. Corbett OBE was an English actor.Corbett was best known for his starring role in the popular and long-running BBC Television sitcom Steptoe and Son in the 1960s and 70s...
1974.