Lyr Add: A Motto for Every Man (Harry Clifton)

Subject: Lyr/Tune Add: A MOTTO FOR EVERY MAN (Harry Clifton
From: Artful Codger
Date: 04 Jun 10 - 05:55 PM

A MOTTO FOR EVERY MAN
   "Put Your Shoulder to the Wheel"
   Written by Harry Clifton. [1866]
   Arranged by Martin Hobson.

1. Some people you've met in your time, no doubt,
   Who never look happy or gay;
I'll tell you the way to get jolly and stout,
   If you'll listen a while to my lay.
I've come here to tell you a bit of my mind,
   And please with the same, if I can,
Advice in my song you will certainly find,
   And a "motto for every man."

        Chorus.
   So we will sing and banish melancholy.
   Trouble may come, we'll do the best we can
   To drive care away, for grieving is a folly.
   "Put your shoulder to the wheel" is a motto for ev'ry man.

2. We cannot all fight in this "Battle of Life,"
   The weak must go to the wall;
So do to each other the thing that is right,
   For there's room in this world for us all.
"Credit refuse" if you've "money to pay,"
   You'll find it the wiser plan;
"And a penny lay by for a rainy day"
   Is a motto for every man.

3. A coward gives in at the first repulse,
   A brave man struggles again
With a resolute eye and a bounding pulse,
   To battle his way amongst men:
For he knows he has one choice in his time,
   To better himself if he can,
"So make your hay while the sun doth shine,"
   That's a motto for every man.

4. Economy study but don't be mean,
   A penny may lose a pound,
Thro' this world a conscience clean
   Will carry you safe and sound.
It's all very well to be free I will own,
   To do a good turn when you can,
But "Charity always commences at home,"
   That's a motto for every man.


Source: Period sheet music collected by Steve Gardham.
Also: Weston & Hussy Minstrel's Book of Songs, No. 1, p. 34, 188-?; available online at the National Library of Australia.
Also: The Levy Collection at Johns Hopkins University


ABC transcription of the melody:

X:1
T:A Motto for Every Man
C:Written by Harry Clifton. Arranged by Martin Hobson.
S:Sheet music published by Hopwood and Crew
N:Also W&H Minstrel's Book of Songs, No. 1, p.34
Z:by Artful Codger
M:6/8
Q:3/8=84 "Moderato"
L:1/8
K:A
%
%    Verse.
E | A A A A G A | FG A E2 E | c c c c B A | B3-B z E |
w: Some peo-ple you've met in your time_ no doubt, Who ne-ver look hap-py or gay:_ I'll
A A A A G A | F G A E z E/ E/ | c d e d c B |
w: tell you the way to get jol-ly and stout, If you'll lis-ten a while to my
A3-A z c/d/ | e e e e d c | d d d d2 d |
w: lay._ I've_ come here to tell you a bit of my mind, And
c e e e d c | B3-B z E | A A A A G A |
w: please with the same if I can,_ Ad-vice in my song you will
F G A E z E/ E/ | c d e d c B | A3-HA3 ||
w: cer-tain-ly find, And a "mot-to for ev-e-ry man."_
%
%    Chorus.
M:3/4
L:1/4
Q:1/4=188
c3 | B2A | E3- | E z C/D/ | E2 F | G2 A | A3 | G2 z |
w: So we will sing_ and_ ba-nish me-lan-cho-ly.
d3 | c2 B | F3- | F z F | F2 E | F2 E | C3- | C z E |
w: Trou-ble may come,_ we'll do the best we can_ To
c3 | B2 A | E3- | E z C/D/ | E2 F | G2 A | B3 | F2 z |
w: drive care a-way_ for_ griev-ing is a fol-ly,
B2 F | c2 B | B2 E | B A A | G ^^F G | c2 B | A3- | A2 z ||
w: Put your shoul-der to the wheel is a mot-to for ev'-ry man._


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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: A Motto for Every Man (Harry Clifton)
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 08 Jun 10 - 09:15 AM

Extra detail from the original sheet music.
Cover
"A MOTTO FOR EVERY MAN"
PUT YOUR SHOULDER TO THE WHEEL
SEIO-COMIC SONG, ALSO SUNG BY FRED FRENCH
WRITTEN AND SUNG BY
MR. HARRY CLIFTON.
AT HIS POPULAR CONCERTS
IN GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND
London, Hopwood & Crew, 42 New Bond St.
Ent. Sta. Hall.
BW Litho of HC with thumbs tucked in trouser pockets, smartly dressed in suit and waistcoat, beige background in oval border. No signature to litho but published by H Davison, 22 , Brooks Mews, New Bond Street.

Inside
"A MOTTO FOR EVERY MAN."
SERIO-COMIC SONG
Written by HARRY CLIFTON.      ARRANGED BY M HOBSON.
Serial number H & C 944

OLIS dates it at 1866
Claimed composed by Charles Coote Junior.
Litho is by Maguire
I have 3 copies, one without cover.
OLIS references: Harding R682
                  Mus. 5c. c.3(4)
Levy 129.106
Printed on broadsides by Fortey of London, Forth of Hull, Sanderson of Edinburgh, and Glasgow Poet's Box (dated 1867)

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: A Motto for Every Man (Harry Clifton)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 09 Jun 10 - 07:36 PM

MIDI from Artful Codger posted

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Seems to me that parts of this melody are taken from other songs.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: A Motto for Every Man (Harry Clifton)
From: Artful Codger
Date: 09 Jun 10 - 07:46 PM

Quite likely--Clifton often used existing tunes. So do tell.