Jon refers us back saying “I heard this off an old EFDSS cassette (same one I got I’d Like To Tell To You from). It’s another nice bit of folk surrealism.”
Short sweet and not needing any explanation, so I’ll simply give you this Mudcat link to explore some variations on a theme with a special mention of The Bonzo’s Look Out There’s A Monster Coming – one of my favourites from the late, great, ginger geezer.
Remember my Gran singing this to me. There’s definitely some bond between the old music hall songs and folk music. Perhaps it’s the mass appeal that both had providing the opportunity for people to get together and simply sing? Go on Jon, Champagne Charlie next!
A primary school teacher of mine, Mrs Kinsey, was a folk singer of some repute and peppered our days with folk tunes AND music hall ditties like this so I’m with JohnnyEv on that special ‘bond’.
I’m with the 2 chaps above. I immediately got a mental picture of my late dad singing a song in similar vein called “Among My Souvenirs.” And whilst I’m here I’d like to say a huge “Thank You” to Jon for giving of his time, effort and knowledge to give us 365 songs. Obviously we can’t like them all but there have been some amazing things. I can’t wait till Christmas to inflict my version of “Mistletoe Bough” on my family. I’m going to be at a loss in a couple of weeks time when this finishes. How about an instrumental or to a week?
I despaired at today’s song selection.
I suspect that poor old Jon is getting “Demob Happy” to inflict this on us!
(17 days to go—hang in there Jon boy)
The original is the lovely tear- jerker music hall song that was probably sung by JohnnyEv’s granny and John Wigley’s Mrs Kinsey (I have no doubts that Steve’s dad would have sung Jon’s version)…….How I hate parodys
Sorry folks, I’ve just discovered that my Mudcat link fell over but have reinstated it. In the process I also came across this.
Nice one, Jon – sorry, Muzza, I just love parodies – and I think they draw attention to the beauty of the original song as well as stopping us taking ourselves too seriously.
And for those who do like that sort of thing, there’s a very similar version of Side By Side that the Corries used to do, that I’ve just seen at the end of Simon’s link above!
The thing that really intrigued with that link is just how old the roots this song are. They all seem like modern conceits, but they’re most definitely not.
‘Always look at your wool and your wimmin in light,’ as textile workers used to say round ‘ere!
I don’t mind a funny song or parody, but I note the brunt of the jokes are mainly older wimmin, which is a tadge sad, with the suggestion that wimmin are to be judged on their obvious charms and men are only more visually-oriented. Generally speaking, women are often more accepting of the less perfect physique of their partner (ref The Full Monty!) – so we are, therefore, the ‘fair’ sex after all! But I like to think the parody is justified, because the men in these songs are often fortune-seeking, so get their come-uppence. It’s all meant to be fun, given we all have our imperfections, which I’m sure the music hall audiences could relate to, as well as the moral message.
Anyway, I did remember the tune and title from childhood, but not these words, tho familiar with the story. Likewise the original ‘Among My Souvenirs,’ which I am sure was in Bert Weedon’s guitar songbook, as I plucked out the tune (one-stringed) on a guitar my father made when I was a child. The guitar played better than me!
Hi Jon and others
I remember hearing the original American ballroom waltz decades ago, and I didn’t expect to hear this in a folk context. The original confures up thoughts of upper-middle class young ladies from Boston or thereabouts, right out of Henry James, playing this on Sunday afternoons to suitors in order to demonstrate their marriageability, or whatsoever they might have wanted to demonstrate in those days… so thanks for this short by rowdy other version, and carry on the Good Fight!
And yes, Mistletoe bough is also one of my favourites!
Best
Luc
Here is a Wiki-link about the original song, complete with lyrics:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/After_the_Ball_(song)
I remember seeing this version in a school songbook called oki-toki-unga (spelling could be way out there) and I sing it to my girlfriend when she’s taking ages to get ready to go out…
Whoops, seem to have managed to leapfrog this one in the rescheduling… Apologies to all you night owls and thanks to Reynard for the tip off.
This one is, though beautiful, so short that it was too easy for you to overlook it 🙂 Thank you, Simon!
@Jane…………….ref your comment 12:42 above
‘Always look at your wool and your wimmin in light,’……..yep….that’s good advice!there had been a lot of misunderstandings involving sheep I believe……..still love my kids though..young Baabara and Baaasil)
As for parodies…this is the ‘Side by side’ one .
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNffFJGaquM
Mind you…..with my non-existant charisma with women…I even got the cold shoulder from the bits on the chair
Love this one but remember it with some slightly different words. Well done Jon.
Now Muzza what’s with this non-existant charisma, did you not see wot I wrote about you the other day – charming and a silver tongue.
@Diana….bless you………’silver tongued’ sounds a bit ‘iffy’ to me but I’ll take your word that it is an asset
@ Muzza: She did, you know, it’s true! I suggest you might have more success if you are not on the chair with the ‘bits,’ though understandably, you might not want to be closer to what’s left after the bits have been removed… Still, you could always remove your own bits, place THEM next to the bits on the chair and at least half the union might be happy… HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Still not really my kind of song either. I thought we were going to get away without it, in the early hours of this morning when nowt appeared! The tune’s lovely tho’.
Why not Muzza and charming with it, don’t forget that bit will you?
Have been delving into my memory with this song and it just the last few lines that are different to Jon’s version.
Put her false teeth in a tumbler
Hung her false wig on the wall
And what was left went to bye-byes
After the Ball
Not a lot of difference I grant you but it serves as an alternative.
@Jane there is a more normal song than this one. It has several verses, the same tune but ends up I think “many’s the heart that is broken, after the ball”.
@ Diana: See my Wiki-link above for similar heartbroken lyrics!
Thanks Jane there seems to be several versions on the same theme, broken hearts, hopes than have vanished etc. Still prefer Jon’s version with amendments from my remembrance. Message on FB – no joy.
@ Jane: I meant to ask you earlier, what did you think of “Orfeo”. The only one I was not too keen on was “Henry” much preferring Fay’s childrens version and even the gruesome one by Steeleye Span. I think that was mentioned as gruesome. I can’t seem to locate it now.
Great stuff!
Still an amusing rendition.
At my age …..I’m ready to settle for those bits on the chair! They are beginning to sound quite attractive.
See previous comment…….even the bits on the chair gave me the elbow!
Coincidentally, & with the roles reversed as to who has the bodily bits to dis-assemble of a night, Young Muzza just sent me this link to Richard Digence’s ‘ Poor Jane.’ Thank you very much! At least it wasn’t me dis-assembling (though parts are definitely questionable nowadays! Hahahaha!)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=KnuzVHBjC3Q
Ha….peeking ahead…just noting the words of a similar song on you tube (to the tune -side by side))
We got married last friday/me and my best gal beside me/ then our friends were all gone/and we were alone/ side by side.
We got ready for bed when/she was the first to undress then/ her teeth and her hair/she placed on a chair/ side by side.
Then one little shining glass eye/and one hearing aid so small/then she took a leg off/and placed it on the chair by the wall.
I stood there broken hearted/ most of my gal had departed/ so I slept on the chair/there was more of her there/ side by side!