Lyr Req: What's the Use of Grousing

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: What's the Use of Grousing
From: Carol
Date: 17 Jan 10 - 08:31 AM

As that's a bit short for a song I did 'write' an extra verse

And as my life goes on and there are problems
My mother's words come back to me each day
Never let them get you down or grumble
But sing this song to help you on your way

Which I sing as the second verse

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: What's the use of grousing
From: GUEST
Date: 16 Jan 10 - 10:32 AM

I think the second option was what my brother-in-law was looking for. Many thanks to you all. Jenny

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: What's the use of grousing
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 15 Jan 10 - 05:29 PM

The British Library lists 2 different songs called WHAT'S THE USE OF GROUSING:

By H. S. Savage, 1928.

By Lawrence Barclay, 1941.

The phrase "What's the use of grousing?" appears in the story "The Madness of Private Otheris" in Indian Tales by Rudyard Kipling (New York: United States Book Company, 1890), page 250—but it's not about music.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: What's the use of grousing
From: GUEST,999
Date: 13 Jan 10 - 07:49 PM

Thanks for posting where it was from, AC. Hope one of the two above are what the OP was seeking.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: What's the use of grousing
From: Artful Codger
Date: 13 Jan 10 - 07:35 PM

Apparent source for "A Fat Little Soldier": More Ballads of Field and Billet. By W. Kersley Holmes (1915?).

Nice find!

Subject: Lyr Add: WHAT'S THE USE OF GROUSING
From: Carol
Date: 13 Jan 10 - 03:55 PM

The one I know goes

CHORUS: What's the use of grousing, just put all your troubles up the spout
Leave them with your uncle at the three brass balls and forget to get them out
Life is what you make it, make it a life of joy
Sing, dance , put up your thumbs and shout
As long as you've got a fag, a place to sleep and something to eat
Blimey what have you got to grouse about

1. Every since my days of early childhood, my mother drummer it in to me each day
Trouble comes to everybody sometime, so meet it with a smile and learn to say: CHORUS

2. So always stand up to your troubles boldly
And never search the blue skies for a cloud
Never jump your hurdles 'til you meet them
But thank God you can sing and sing out loud: CHORUS TWICE

Subject: Lyr Add: A FAT LITTLE SOLDIER
From: GUEST,999--you mean this?
Date: 13 Jan 10 - 03:20 PM

A FAT LITTLE SOLDIER.

YOUR spirit within may be bold as the best.
Your heart may be fierce as a flame,
With patriot passion your person possessed,
And ardour no peril can tame,
But no one who sees you will think of all that.
They only remark, "Oh, how jolly and fat!'

What's the use of grousing to people at home
Of the rations perpetual stew,
Lank roasts that disable your cutlery so,
Bread and jam they won't listen to you.
They will say, “There's not much HE should grumble about!
It's pretty privation makes privates so stout!"

You can't have the pleasure of bragging with pride
Of the strenuous toil of your days,
Of the leagues you go legging with chums by your side,
Or trenching in arduous ways;
The best you can do is your hardships to lump,
And smilingly suffer the fate of the plump!

When your day comes at last to embark for the fight,
A path to distinction to carve,
The Huns will despair as you roll into sight
The Briton whom nothing can starve!
Oh! bravely and buoyantly bounce to Berlin
But give up the thought that you'll ever be thin!

Subject: Lyr Req: What's the use of grousing
From: GUEST,Jenny
Date: 13 Jan 10 - 07:46 AM

My brother-in-law is looking for the words to this song. Can anyone help? Thanks