Subject: Lyr Add: ISABELLA, THE BARBER'S DAUGHTER (Clifton)
From:
Artful Codger
Date: 14 May 10 - 10:59 AM
A song by the famous music hall performer, Harry Clifton. The lyrics were transcribed by Steve Gardham from period sheet music.
ISABELLA, THE BARBER'S DAUGHTER
Written and Composed by Harry Clifton. [1863]
1
When you hear my ditty my woes you will pity,
I'm engaged in the City from ten till three,
But I've been betray'd by a fascinating maid,
Who was Bosen in a bonnet shop at Battersea....
Her eyes were as black as the pips of a pear,
No rose in the garden with her cheeks could compare,
She'd a gingham umbrella,
Her name was Isabella
And her father kept a barber's shop at Islington....
2
On a Monday afternoon in the latter part of June,
From Waterloo I started for a ride to Battersea,
And as we drew near.....to Hungerford pier.....
A lovely lady I chanced to see...
In her hands a nosegay, 'twas a bundle of stocks,
A brown paper parcel and a blue bonnet-box,
A gingham umbrella,
Her name was Isabella
And etc.
3
I rush'd to the gangway and proffer'd my assistance,
Oh the smile that she gave me as I handed her a seat,
I sat down beside her she offer'd no resistance
We talk'd of the weather the rain and the heat..
I asked her--her parents--I asked her their trade,
I asked her, her name, with a look half afraid
She rais'd her umbrella
"my name is Isabella,
And my father keeps a barber's shop at Islington."
4
Before we parted she'd all my affection
I enquired, "Should I see her at some future day!"
She simpered and smiled, and said, "she'd no objection"
As light as a fairy she tripped it away.
So we were engaged in a regular way,
My time passed as happy as the flowers in May,
When I thought of Isabella
And her gingham umbrella,
And her father's little barber's shop at Islington.
5
I took her to the Palace with a ticket of admission,
I took her to Richmond and the Gardens at Kew,
I took her to Madame Tussaud's exhibition,
Eight hours by the sea at Brighton too.
Oh! the presents I made and the letters I wrote,
From the first time I met her on a Citizen boat.
My darling Isabella,
And her gingham umbrella,
Whose father kept a barber's shop at Islington.
6
When you hear the sequel, you'll say it has no equal
In all the annals of woman's deceit,
I went one night to meet my Isabel,
But no Isabel was there to meet---
I searched far and wide till I happened to drop
In near the Angel, at a "sixpenny hop"---
Oh! there was Isabella
With a ginger-whiskered fellow
Doing "double shuffles" up at Islington!
7
I staggered with surprise then exclaimed...."Isabella!
"Do I look like a fool? Do you take me for a flat?"
She coolly replied, "Well I rather think I do,
And if you don't like it, take it out of that.
I rushed at my rival, satisfaction to get,
But found that my troubles had not ended yet---
For up jumped Isabella,
With her gingham umbrella,
And smashed my new "six and six" at Islington.
8
I rushed from the sight of the faithless spinster,
In the Thames dirty water repose for to find:
But before I reached the bridge of Westminster,
My opinions altered, and I changed my mind.
For folly must be paid for and wisdom bought:
There are fishes in the sea that have never been caught
So a fig for Isabella
And her gingham umbrella,
And her father's little barber's shop at Islington.
You can find an Americanized version at the John Hopkins University Lester S. Levy site. That version is titled "Isabella and Her Gingham Umbrella". Judging from a brief comparison, the localizations are rather clumsy, resulting in a weaker song. The score, however, is virtually the same as in the Clifton sheet music. Nevertheless, when preparing a MIDI for your delectation, I followed the Clifton score.
Steve Gardham's notes:Cover
ISABELLA
THE BARBER'S DAUGHTER
Written & Sung With Tumultuous Applause By
HARRY CLIFTON.
London, Hopwood & Crew, 42 New Bond St W.
Litho: by Conanen, Lee & Siebel of Clifton in smart suit and top-hat carrying cane, hand out to help Isabella off the gangway onto the Citizen boat.
Inside
Written and composed by Harry Clifton
Copyright and property of the Author and not to be sung in Public without his written permission.
H&C 485
In this post in the "Harry Clifton songwriter" thread, Sminky established the composition date at 1863, based on a notice in a contemporaneous publication (extract quoted).
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