WHERE DID YOU GET THAT HAT?
(Words and music by James Rolmaz)
(Copyright by Francis, Day & Hunter, Ltd.)
(From "Music Hall Song Book, by Peter Gammond, 1975)
(Not dated, but from the 1890's chapter)

Now how I came to get this hat, 'tis very strange and funny,
Grandfather died and left to me his property and money;
And when the will it was read out, they told me straight and flat,
If I would have his money, I must always wear his hat.

CHORUS:
"Where did you get that hat? Where did you get that tile?
Isn't it a nobby one, and just the proper style?
I should like to have one Just the same as that!"
Where'er I go, they shout "Hello! Where did you get that hat?"

If I go to the op'ra house, in the op'ra season
There's someone sure to shout at me without the slightest reason.
If I go to a concert hall to have a jolly spree,
There's someone in the party who is sure to shout at me: CHORUS

At twenty-one I thought I would to my sweetheart get married;
The people in the neighbourhood had said too long we'd tarried.
So off to church we went right quick, determined to get wed;
I had not long been in there, when the parson to me said: CHORUS

I once tried hard to be M.P. but failed to get elected,
Upon a tub I stood, round which a thousand folks collected;
And I had dodged the eggs and bricks (which was no easy task),
When one man cried, "A question I the candidate would ask!" CHORUS

When Colonel South, the millionaire, gave his last garden party
I was amongst the guests who had a welcome true and hearty;
The Prince of Wales was also there, and my heart jumped with glee,
When I was told the Prince would like to have a word with me. CHORUS

Here's what the songbook says:
"Where Did You Get That Hat?" written by James Rolmaz, was the one great success of its original singer J.C. Heffron, who died in 1934. His name would hardly be remembered today were it not for that immortal catch phrase. The touch of topicality so often found in music-hall songs in the owner's meeting with the Prince of Wales (a popular subject himself) whom he met at the last of Colonel South's garden parties. The Prince (later Edward VII) was fond of using the phrase and was said to have once directed it at the Archbishop of Canterbury.
I can't figure out why this is attributed to two different songwriters. The text above makes me believe that Rolmaz must have been the songwriter.

I typed up a tune on Noteworthy Composer, but I couldn't get it to convert on Alan's MIDITXT program. I'm going to send it to him and see if he can fix it.

-Joe Offer-