Song - Johnny Bradbury

Subject: Song - Johnny Bradbury
From: Tradsinger
Date: 30 Aug 20 - 07:27 AM

Hello all,
Can anyone help me trace this song. The chorus is:

It was dear old Johnny, he proved a friend to me
Dear old Johnny, in England and over the sea
Oft times have I been downhearted, not a friend have I had by me
But that old friend proved to the end, that was Johnny Bradbury.

I was given to understand that a Johnny is slang for a pound note and a Bradbury slang for a ten shilling note. Has anyone come across this song before?

Tradsinger

Subject: RE: Song - Johnny Bradbury
From: GUEST,Mike Yates
Date: 30 Aug 20 - 08:30 AM

Here is the text from the Cantwell Family of Oxford, recorded by me in the 1960's. You probably have a later recording. Will try to dig out the details of who wrote this, which I have somewhere or other.

Johnny Bradbury (Roud 24575)
I’ve a dear old pal in England, I’ve a dear old pal in Wales
I’ve a dear old pal in Scotland who could tell you many tales
But of all the friends I’ve had, sir, I had one friend by me
And that old friend proved to the end, ‘twas Johnny Bradbury

Chorus: It was dear old Johnny and he proved a pal to me
Dear old Johnny, in England and over the sea
Oft-times have I been downhearted, not a friend have I had by me
But that old friend proved to the end, ‘twas Johnny Bradbury

I once fell out of work, sir, in our large city
I walked about in wonder, all the big bugs coughed at me
But never was I downhearted ‘cause I had one pal by me
And that old friend proved to the end, ‘twas Johnny Bradbury

Subject: RE: Song - Johnny Bradbury
From: Tradsinger
Date: 30 Aug 20 - 08:45 AM

Great, Mike. Thanks. I just got bits of it from the Cantwells. I can't find any other version.

Cheers

Subject: RE: Song - Johnny Bradbury
From: GUEST,Mike Yates
Date: 31 Aug 20 - 05:24 AM

While we are talking about the Cantwell Family. Here are three fragments of song that I recorded from them in the '60's. Can anyone help with their identification, please?

Three Fragments

1.On one bright and Sunday morning
I was picking mush-a-rooms
When some great big clumsy something
Came and stole my pantaloons

Take my clothes up to the grubber
And my shoes to Uncle Sam
When I’m dead and gone, dear mother
On my tombstone spread some jam

Roud 23519. In English slang, the word ‘grubber’ can means either a workhouse, a tramp, or else a market-trader. ‘Uncle Sam’ probably refers to a pawnbroker.

2. A kettle will gaily sing, bubbling over with joy
The children shout with glee as they climb upon my knee
Before everything seems so jolly even the missus keeps chatting
The liver and sausages in the pan and bursting their sides a-laughing

3. Oh I can’t sleep on me right side
And I can’t sleep on me left
For the right side is the right side
To sleep on at night
I can’t sleep on the other side
With me face towards the wall
And as long as there’s a little drop of scrumpy in the house
I can’t sleep at all