Lyr Req/ADD: When Father Said He'd Pay the Rent

Subject: Lyr Req: the day that father paid the rent
From: GUEST,Polly Brown
Date: 08 Apr 11 - 11:56 AM

Has anyone heard of a George Formby Snr song called 'The Day That Father Said He'd Pay The Rent' or similar? It includes lines about the canary murmuring 'No hope' and falling off its perch, and little Willy trying to eat the railings round the park.
I'm looking for lyrics and music and would be grateful for any info.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: the day that father paid the rent(Formby)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 10 Apr 11 - 12:54 PM

The song is actually:

WHEN FATHER SAID HE'D PAY THE RENT
Written by William Hargreaves
Sung by George Formby [Sr] 1875-1921
Released as Edison Blue Amberol wax cylinder 23177 [1914]

This information is from The Cylinder Preservation and Digitization Project at the University of California, Santa Barbara.

However, the cylinder has not been digitized and uploaded by them.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: the day that father paid the rent(Formby)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 10 Apr 11 - 01:23 PM

The song is also on the CD "A Music Hall Sampler," by Windyridge Music Hall Recordings. You can download it for £0.79 on this page. I listened to a free sample and transcribed this:

The house that we are living in, it never cost a cent.
Although Pa's lived there twenty years, he's never paid the rent.
But one day he told Mother that he thought it time he did.
The shock so upset Mother, that she fainted with a kid.
The canary fell down off its perch and murmured, "Goodbye, all."
The pictures from the nails all slipped and tumbled off the wall.
The fire went out, the boiler burst, the dog refused to bark,
And little Willie tried to [eat the railings round the park?]....

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: the day that father paid the rent(Formby)
From: Charley Noble
Date: 10 Apr 11 - 09:09 PM

Oh, I'd love to see the rest of these lyrics!

It might be another candidate for the Pity the Downtrodden Landlord Housing Songbook.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: When Father Said He'd Pay the Rent
From: GUEST,999
Date: 17 Sep 12 - 02:51 PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UnjWzQ_qgQQ

George Formby sings it on Youtube. It is a great song. The lyrics are clear. There is also a well-written brief biography of George Formby.

Subject: Lyr Add: WHEN FATHER SAID HE'D PAY THE RENT
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 18 Sep 12 - 03:05 PM

WHEN FATHER SAID HE'D PAY THE RENT
(William Hargreaves)

1. The 'ouse that we are livin' in, it never cost a cent.
Although Pa's lived there twenty year, 'e's never paid the rent,
But one day 'e told Mother that 'e thought it time 'e did.
The shock so upset Mother that she fainted with the kid.
The canary fell down off its perch an' murmured, "Goodbye, hall."
The pictures from the nails all slipped an' tumbled off the wall.
The fire went out; the boiler burst; the dog refused to bark,
An' little Willie tried to eat the railin's round the park.

CHORUS 1:
On the day that Father said 'e'd pay the rent,
The servants in disgust packed up an' went.
All the children started cryin',
An' the tom-cat lay down dyin'
On the day that Father said 'e'd pay the rent.

2. At last the landlord called; 'e always did it round our way,
An' Papa said, "I'm glad you came; I'm going to pay today."
Then the landlord took a shiver and 'e turned blue, green an' red.
The shock 'ad been so much for 'im the landlord dropped down dead.
The neighbors all came rushin' out an' shouted in one breath:
"Your father's silly honesty 'as caused that poor man's death."
Two men in uniform marched off with Papa in between.
If I live to be a 'undred, I shall ne'er forget the scene.

CHORUS 2:
On the day that Father said 'e'd pay the rent,
That night to a asylum 'e was sent,
For 'e's in a room that's padded.
On the door these words are hadded:
"This is the man that said 'e'd pay the rent."

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: When Father Said He'd Pay the Rent
From: Charley Noble
Date: 18 Sep 12 - 05:01 PM

Thanks, Jim.

Charley Noble