Lyr Req: I married a woman I thought was rich

Subject: Lyr Req: I married a woman I thought was rich
From: Nick Dow
Date: 01 Oct 25 - 04:53 PM

Sung by George Downs Norfolk 5th July 1942 Roud 21877 to Francis Collinson. Does anybody have any knowledge of this song. There is a fragment of the words in the VWML. I have a feeling it might be American. Thanks in advance

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I married a woman I thought was rich
From: cnd
Date: 06 Oct 25 - 08:59 AM

I've had no luck finding additional info on the song. Here's the lyrics, for future ease of reference, via https://archives.vwml.org/records/COL/1/5

I married a woman whom I thought was rich
And very soon after I found
She'd spent all the money invested in bonds
And my prospects all come to the ground
She'd also six children whom I had to keep
As we walked out the other day
Some fellow who knew me
Patted me on the back
And these words unto me he did say

Refrain:
You are a lucky fellow John
And that you can't deny
I don't believe you could do wrong
If you were to try
Fortune seemed to favour you
Do wrong you never can
(last two lines missing)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I married a woman I thought was rich
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 06 Oct 25 - 10:17 AM

Reminiscent of those Music Hall pieces of the 1890s but nothing to suggest American in there.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I married a woman I thought was rich
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 06 Oct 25 - 10:18 AM

The big problem in finding stuff like this is that the Bodleian is still down and a search there for the first line might have been fruitful.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I married a woman I thought was rich
From: Nick Dow
Date: 06 Oct 25 - 11:41 AM

Probably the reference to 'investment in bonds' made me think there might be an American link. Thank you both. If I can find the rest of the song I'll include it in the Collinson book. Thanks for the Music hall suggestion Steve, I'll see if John Baxter has any knowledge of it.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I married a woman I thought was rich
From: Nick Dow
Date: 07 Oct 25 - 03:37 AM

John has come up trumps. He has given me the following answer. I have all the text now and I'll post them if you are interested Thanks again for your advice. By the way you were correct it's not American.

The song is not American and perhaps a bit older than expected ... it was written and performed by John Read. Published in 1881 by Musical Bouquet, it was called "You are a lucky man John'.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I married a woman I thought was rich
From: Nick Dow
Date: 07 Oct 25 - 09:18 AM

For better or worse here they are!

I MARRIED A WOMAN I THOUGHT WAS RICH (YOU’RE A LUCKY MAN JOHN)
COL 1/5,George Downs, Norfolk, 5th July 1942.
With additions from ‘Mackney’s 50 popular Songs for banjo’, page 36. (Nos 6602-3 Musical Bouquet 1881 John Read).


You'd better be born lucky than rich,
Is a saying you'll hear to this day.
But if I had the choice of the two,
I know which I should have I really must say say.
I'm not very lucky,
Would like to be rich,
But of course I know I never can,
Misfortune you see has a strong hold on me,
Though they call me a fortunate man.

When ever friends meet me they say...

Chorus after every verse:
You are a lucky fellow John
And that you can't deny
I don't believe you could do wrong
If you were to try
Fortune seemed to favour you
Do wrong you never can
While some go wrong you get on,
You are a lucky man.

I married a woman whom I thought was rich
And very soon after I found
She'd spent all the money invested in bonds
And my prospects all come to the ground
She'd also six children whom I had to keep
As we walked out the other day
Some fellow who knew me
Patted me on the back
And these words unto me he did say

One evening as I went home at ten,
And I'd forgotten the key,
I gave a rat-tat and my wife said 'Who's that?'
I answered 'My dear only me'
She opened the window I took off my hat,
Thought of catching the key but instead,
A flowerpot fell from the top window sill,
And smashed on the top of my head.

And that moment my neighbour looking out of his window said...



One night as I stood in the Old Robin Hood
Public house having some beer,
Some fellow came in for two of cold gin,
And with me he would interfere,
He tried all his might to induce me to fight,
I said 'Sir to fight I'm not bound.'
He called me a coward, I couldn't stand that ,
I said 'Sir I will have a round!'

And after being knocked all over the shop they said...