The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #140894 Message #4180969
Posted By: Lighter
08-Sep-23 - 10:41 AM
Thread Name: Origins: She Was Poor (Same The Whole World Over)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: She Was Poor (Same The Whole World Over)
Novelist Dennis Wheatley recalls his army days in the Great War:
“On mess nights, too, before our mad midnight gallops, we used to rally round the piano in the ante-room and sing all the old bawdy songs. It was an upright piano and, now and then, we poured a drink into it to keep it going. I think our favourite song was:
She was poor but she was honest, Victim of a village crime For the Squire’s cruel passion, Robbed ‘er of ‘er honest nime.
Chorus:
It's the rich wot ‘as the pleasure It's the poor wot gets the blime It’s the same the ‘ole world over, It’s a bleedin’ bloody shime.
Why did ‘e wot was so wealthy Go with ‘er wot was so poor Bringin’ shime on ‘er relations Turnin’ ‘er into an ‘hore.
She then went up to London For to hide ‘er grief and shime. There she met another Squire, And she lorst her nime agine.
Now she rides in ‘er limouseen Round the Park so people say An’ the Dukes and Toffs they stop ‘er For ter pass the toime of day.
And ‘er parents in the village Bowed by grief an’ sad regret, Drinks the Champagne wot she sends ‘em; But they never can ferget.
“There are further verses describing her ‘Standin’ on the corner selling matches by the box, An’ anyone wot does it on ‘er…’, etc…."