Origins: My Mother-in-Law (Irish comic song?)

Subject: RE: Origins: My Mother-in-Law (Irish comic song?)
From: GUEST,Eliza
Date: 07 Jul 14 - 05:42 PM

Les Dawson had dozens of them in his stand-up repertoire.

Subject: RE: Origins: My Mother-in-Law (Irish comic song?)
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 07 Jul 14 - 05:36 PM

I have 3 different songs with this title, all 19thc but none of them are versions of your song. And, guest, at least one of them is worse than this one.

1) Harry Clifton's song

2) found in American collections such as Morris and Hubbard.

3) A local Hull broadside pr about 1870. (Actually it's about a stepmother!)

Incidentally until recently cheap M-I-L jokes were part of the stock in trade of British stand-up comics.

Subject: RE: Origins: My Mother-in-Law (Irish comic song?)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 07 Jul 14 - 02:40 AM

No matter how repulsive the song may be, it's interesting - and I think it's worthwhile to dig up the story behind it.

We often get complaints about some of the songs people ask about or post, but I don't think such complaints are valid grounds for inquiries to be suppressed.

Still, I don't think I'd want to sing such a song myself - although I'd like to hear it once.

-Joe Offer, Mudcat Music Editor-

Subject: RE: Origins: My Mother-in-Law (Irish comic song?)
From: GUEST,sleepy
Date: 06 Jul 14 - 09:26 PM

Respect your personal opinion, maybe shared by others. That said, still seek info. for annotation, to inform commentary upon song if eventually used for scholarly publication. Your outright dismissal of song raises for me two quick questions: What to make of maybe 99% "bawdy/obscene" songs otherwise covered, or not, on this and other (admired) important websites?; the implications, of outright dismissal, for researching countless ethnic stereotypical songs? And so on.
I did not seek annotation anticipating this drift. Just seek song info.

Subject: RE: Origins: My Mother-in-Law (Irish comic song?)
From: GUEST
Date: 06 Jul 14 - 05:51 AM

think some songs are best forgotten & here's a prime example- tasteless, misogynistic and worst of all, unfunny.... R.I.P.

Subject: Origins: MY MOTHER-IN-LAW (Irish comic song?)
From: GUEST,sleepy
Date: 06 Jul 14 - 12:04 AM

Not found in Levy, nor is it "My Mother-in-Law" as often found in many other sources. I suspect Irish or Irish-American origin, given tune strain. Perhaps somewhere in Wehman comic songsters, but unable to find complete listing for contents of them. Perhaps broadside song? Title here is assigned by me; I've searched under all sorts of imagined titles, and nothing matches lyrics.

My mother-in-law was sick one day,
Her life I had insured.
So I sent for the doctor,
Praying to God she couldn't be cured.

The next morning when I awoke,
And found that she was dead,
I bought her a cheap coffin
And the undertaker said,
"Why don't you cover her face?
It's just a regular disgrace!"
Oh, undertaker, will you do me a favor
And bury her right away."

The next morning we buried her
In a hole of six-foot deep;
I'll bet that she is happy,
And forever will she sleep.

Now, she'll have things, it's all her way,
And I know she won't return.
I'll bet that she's in Heaven,
For she was too green to burn.

She was always in the way,
Morning, night, and day.
And the undertaker, he did me a favor,
And buried her right away.