Songs From the Front and Rear

Subject: Songs From the Front and Rear
From: palarge
Date: 13 Dec 99 - 06:52 AM

In the old threads I found a message from Dick Greenhaus saying the lyrics to Christmas in the Workhouse (the version sung by Canadian Soldiers) was by Anthony Hopkins in Songs from the Front and Rear. If anyone has the lyrics I sure would be grateful.

Subject: Lyr Add: Christmas Day in the Workhouse^^
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 13 Dec 99 - 11:40 PM

Christmas Day in the Workhouse

'Twas Christmas day in the workhouse
The happiest day of the year,
The paupers' hearts were filled with joy
And their bellies filled with beer.

Up spoke the Workhouse master
"To all within these walls,
I wish you a Merry Christmas!"
And the paupers answered, "Balls!"

If you don't believe me
If you think I'm telling a lie
Just ask the Workhouse Master
He was there as well as I.

Up spoke the Workhouse Master
And said," If you're not good
I'll be a lousy rotter
And stop your Christmas pud."

Up spoke the leading pauper
He said,"It's all a farce
You can take your Christmas pudding
And stick it up your arse.

If you don't believe me
If you think I'm telling a lie
Just ask the Workhouse Master
He was there as well as I.

From Songs from the Front and Rear, Hopkins
filename[ WORKHOU2
RG

Subject: RE: Songs From the Front and Rear
From: Murray on Saltspring
Date: 14 Dec 99 - 03:04 AM

Mind you, Hopkins only edited the book, he didn't make up the words.

Subject: RE: Songs From the Front and Rear
From: Murray on SS
Date: 14 Dec 99 - 03:14 AM

You may be interested in this version, from Hugh De Witt's Bawdy Barrack-Room Ballads (London, 1970, p. 24):

It was Christmas Day in the workhouse,
The season of good cheer;
The paupers' hearts were merry,
their bellies full of beer.
The pompous workhouse master,
As he strode about the halls,
Called out: "A Merry Christmas!"
But the paupers answered: "Balls!"

This angered the workhouse master,
Who swore by all the gods
That he'd stop their Christmas pudden,
The dirty rotten sods!
Then up spake a bald-headed pauper,
His face as bold as brass:
"You can keep your Christmas pudden,
And stick it up your arse!"

Subject: RE: Songs From the Front and Rear
From: bseed(charleskratz)
Date: 14 Dec 99 - 03:58 AM

As I subvocalize the words they seem to want to be sung to "Danville Girls"--am I close? Definitely one for my repertoire.

When I first saw the thread title I thought it was about duets for one person...

--seed

Subject: Lyr Add: CHRISTMAS DAY IN THE WORKHOUSE
From: AndyG
Date: 14 Dec 99 - 05:33 AM

The version above (from Hugh De Witt 1970) is almost a straight lift from:
The Long Trail, Brophy & Partridge (1st 1931/rev 1964)

It was Christmas Day in the Workhouse
Recitative

It was Christmas Day in the workhouse,
The season of good cheer.
The paupers' hearts were merry,
Their bellies full of beer.
The pompous workhouse master,
As he strode about the halls,
Wished them a Merry Christmas,
But the paupers answered: `Balls!`
This angered the workhouse master,
Who swore by all the gods
That he'd stop their Christmas pudden,
The dirty rotten sods.
Then up spake a bald-headed pauper,
His face as bold as brass:
"You can keep your Christmas pudden,
And stick it up your arse!"

A short variant ran:
It was Christmas day in the Harem
And the eunuchs were standing around
In strode the bold, bad Sultan
And gazed on his marble halls.
`What would you like for Christmas, boys?'
And the eunuchs answered `Balls!'

Pre-1914, part of the lore of the `working class', and popular
with the troops because it expresses the resentment of the
helpless against circumstances and against those with power
over them.

And IIRC the film Oh What a Lovely War had:

It was Christmas day in the Harem
And the eunuchs were standing around
And lots of lovely ladies,
Were lying on the ground.
When in strode the bold, bad Sultan
And gazed on his marble halls.
Crying `What would you like for Christmas, boys?'
And the eunuchs answered `Balls!'

AndyG

Subject: RE: Songs From the Front and Rear
From: AndyG
Date: 14 Dec 99 - 05:42 AM

No, no, no ...

Oh What a Lovely War (the film) has:

`You can keep your Christmas pudden, And stick it up your
Tidings of comfort and joy'

Crying `What would you like for Christmas, boys?'
And the eunuchs answered:
'Tidings of comfort and joy'

AndyG

Subject: RE: Songs From the Front and Rear
From: bseed(charleskratz)
Date: 14 Dec 99 - 11:54 AM

Great song, great thread. You guys give good thread.

--seed

Subject: RE: Songs From the Front and Rear
From: palarge
Date: 14 Dec 99 - 05:17 PM

Well everyone seems to have the right poem. This that the entire thing. My grandfather recited it and my mother remembers it as very long and animated. As he was a Canadian soldier in WWI that is probably where he learned it. I was just trying to get it together as a family thing for the holidays. My Mother doesn't remember the verse about the enunchs. Peggy