Lyr Req: Now I Have to Call Him Father

Subject: Lyrics: Now I have to call him Father
From: dulcimer
Date: 23 Jan 98 - 06:57 PM

I hear this song on Thistle and Shammrock by the mother of Mary Black. It suppose to be a music hall tune and it seems as if part of the second verse is missing. The song deals with a mother taking her daughter's boyfriend. May be someone has a version that I can compare to with what I have.

Subject: RE: Lyrics: Now I have to call him Father
From: Jen
Date: 25 Jan 98 - 10:51 PM

Well, I used to be as happy as the birdies on the trees,
And that was when I'm courtin' and its in my memories
I used to feel so happy with my henry by my side
looking forward to the day when I would be his bride
But now he's thrown me over and I'm full of misery
For someone else has wiped me eyes with William Henry

Oh, he used to come and court his little Mary Ann
I used to think that he was my own man
But mother caught his eye and they got married on the sly
And now I have to call him father

He used to take my hand and say please walk with me through life,
But now he's thrown me over for a second-handed wife
And on his wedding day when he was married to me ma
He said run along and wash your face and kiss your new papa

Oh, he used to come and court his little MaryAnn
I used to think that he was my young man
But mother caught his eye and they got married on the sly
And now I have to call him father!

Now later on in after years it broke my heart indeed
To see him twiddle mummy as he used to twiddle me
At ten o' clock last night I felt I'd like to punch his head
When he said run along, its time to go to bed

The next young man I meet I'll let him lead me to the door
But never introduce him to me mother anymore

Oh, he used to come and court his little MaryAnn
I used to think that he was my young man
But mother caught his eye and they got married on the sly
And now I have to call him father.

This is from memory, as my tape of the song has lately died. I think I remembered the whole thing, but if not, please forgive!

Jen

Subject: RE: Lyrics: Now I have to call him Father
From: dulcimer
Date: 26 Jan 98 - 07:58 AM

Thanks Jean. This was exactly as I heard and wrote down the song. It just seeemed like the second verse was not as complete as the other two, only four lines instead of six.

Subject: Lyr Add: NOW I HAVE TO CALL HIM FATHER
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 30 Oct 05 - 01:20 AM

Lyrics copied from http://lyricsplayground.com/alpha/songs/n/nowihavetocallhimfather.shtml

NOW I HAVE TO CALL HIM FATHER
(Charles Collins / Fred Godfrey)
[Recorded by Ada Jones in 1908.]

1. I used to be as 'appy as the pigeons on the trees.
That's when I was courtin' and me mind was well at ease.
I used to feel so loving with me 'Enery by me side,
Looking forward to the day when I should be his bride;
But now he's thrown me over and I'm full of misery.
Someone else has done me out of William 'Enery.

CHORUS: He used to come and court his little Mary Anne.
I used to think that he was my young man,
But Mother caught his eye and they got married on the sly.
Now I 'ave to call him Father.

2. He used to call me 'Dreamy Eyes' and take me on his knee,
Kiss me little ruby lips and make a fuss of me.
He bought a second-handed home to comfort me through life.
Now he's thrown me over for a second-handed wife.
And on the weddin' day when he was married to Mama,
He said, "Go and wash your face, and kiss your new Papa."

3. When I got home this afternoon, it broke my 'art to see
William cuddlin' Mother as he used to cuddle me.
At ten o'clock last night, I felt I'd like to punch his head
When he said to me, "Pop off, it's time to go to bed."
The next young man I get, I'll let him see me to the door,
But I'll never introduce one to me mother anymore.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Now I Have to Call Him Father
From: masato sakurai
Date: 30 Oct 05 - 01:45 AM

The mp3 recording is here (Collected Works of Ada Jones part 1).

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Now I Have to Call Him Father
From: Billy Weeks
Date: 30 Oct 05 - 12:41 PM

The original singer was Vesta Victoria,who recorded it in 1911 on the HMV label and in 1931 (in a medley) on Regal. Kilgarrif gives the date as 1908, written by Collins and Godfrey and published by Remick (NY) and Francis, Day and Hunter (London).

Vesta Victoria's performance has been reissued on LP and CD. She was a lovely singer.