The second verse would be racist today but it does reflect the times they lived in

MY MEATLESS DAYS
Written and composed by R.P. Weston & Bert Lee - 1917
Performed by Ernie Mayne (1871-1937)


Just a day each week it's true. I help to win the war I do
I don't sell flags around the street, I go without my bits of meat
And when I pass the butcher's shop and hear 'em shout, 'bye-bye'
I pull my belt up four more holes and sadly I reply,

It's my meatless day, my meatless day, I'm not going to eat
Any sort of meat, meat, meat, meat, meat
I'm thin and pale, all I've put away
Is four quarts of mussels, five loaves of bread,
Nine pairs of kippers and a big cod's head
Five tins of salmon and I feel half dead
'Cos it's my meatless day.

Last night I wandered through the park I met a lady after dark
And feeling faint for want of food I fell into her arms (how rude)
Then she murmured, 'Kiss me George.' Her face I chanced to see
Well the girl was black, with negro lips so I shouted, 'Not for me'

Oh It's my meatless day, my meatless day, I'm not going to eat
Any sort of meat, meat, meat, meat, meat
I'm thin and pale, all I've put away
Is two rolly polly's, (never left a crumb),
Three currant puddings and a little bit of plum
Five apple dumplings are a-rolling round my tum
'Cos it's my meatless day.

As a farmer's boy I worked near York. The day the pig died we had pork
Next day the old cow died and we had beef for breakfast, dinner and tea
We had mutton when the sheep pegged out, and we all got over fed
Next day the farmer's missus died, so I went up and said

Here, it's my meatless day, my meatless day, I'm not going to eat
Any sort of meat, meat, meat, meat, meat
I'm thin and pale, all I've put away
Is five pound of taters that I had to thieve
A vegetable marrow as long as me sleeve
A jar of pickled onions you can tell when I breathe
It's my meatless day.