Lyr Req: A Boy's Best Friend Is His Mother

Subject: A Boy's Best Friend
From: GUEST,SH
Date: 04 Oct 00 - 07:30 AM

I am not sure if it is a song or a poem but my Mom once in a while sings a few lines of a "A Boy's Best Friend Is His Mother". Here is what we know of it.

A Boy's best friend is his mother.
Cherish her with care.
And smooth her silver hair.
For when she's gone you'll get no other.

I would like to get the words to this song or poem because my Mom remembers the basic rhythm when she sings that part. I bet is quite a song.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: A Boy's Best Friend
From: Mrrzy
Date: 04 Oct 00 - 11:23 AM

Reminds me (thread creep alert) of the great reference in Tom Lehrer's Oedipus Rex - he sure knew who a boy's best friend is! to which I never recognized the reference. Would love to hear the poem... the real one, that is!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: A Boy's Best Friend
From: mousethief
Date: 04 Oct 00 - 11:49 AM

The only song I ever heard that line in was the silly song about....

Peepin' through the knot-hole in grandpa's wooden leg
Who will wind the clock when I am gone?
Go get an axe, there's a flea in Lilly's ear
And a boy's best friend is his mother.

So I'm sorry, I can't help you.

Alex
O..O
=o=

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: A Boy's Best Friend
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 27 Aug 02 - 06:55 PM

"A Boy's Best Friend Is His Mother" written by Harry Miller and Joseph P. Skelley, is sung by Joe Petersen (female) on the collection "To Mother with Love" ASV/Living Era CD 5351, 2000; and by Bob Scarce on the collection "The Larks They Sang Melodious: Sing-Song in a Suffolk Pub" 1974.

It was also recorded by Vernon Dalhart in 1925; by Bud Thompson in 1925; and by Ford & Glenn in 1927 or 28.

The Petersen recording is available on CDNOW. From a sound sample there, I was able to transcribe this much:

"...whose love is dearer far than any other,
And wherever we may turn,
This lesson we may learn:
A boy's best friend is his mother.
Then cherish..."

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: A Boy's Best Friend
From: Giac
Date: 28 Aug 02 - 01:52 AM

While there are no lyrics on this site, there is a reference to the song being among those taught by memory at a "Dame School" in Suffolk in the 1890s.

The text notes that "The logbooks also hint at the indomitable spirit of Freckenham children in the face of stultifying lessons: the 1890s saw preoccupation with learning songs by heart, amongst them: 'A Boy's Best Friend is his Mother', 'Father's Return' and 'The Seasons' ... "

~:o) Mary

Subject: Lyr Add: A BOY'S BEST FRIEND IS HIS MOTHER
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 24 Jul 09 - 05:47 AM

The sheet music can be seen at Johns Hopkins University:


A BOY'S BEST FRIEND IS HIS MOTHER.
Words, Henry Miller. Music, Joseph P. Skelly.
"As sung by Will Raymond of Thatcher, Primrose & West's Minstrels"
New York: T.B. Harms & Co., 1883.

1. While plodding on our way the toilsome road of life,
How few the friends that daily there we meet!
Not many will stand by in trouble and in strife,
With counsel and affection ever sweet!
But there is one whose smile will ever on us beam,
Whose love is dearer far than any other,
And wherever we may turn,
This lesson we will learn:
A boy's best friend is his mother.

CHORUS. Then cherish her with care,
And smooth her silv'ry hair.
When gone, you will never get another;
And wherever we may turn,
This lesson we shall learn:
A boy's best friend is his mother.

2. Tho' all the world may frown, and ev'ry friend depart,
She never will forsake us in our need!
Our refuge evermore is still within her heart.
For us her loving sympathy will plead!
Her pure and gentle smile, forever cheers our way.
'Tis sweeter and 'tis purer than all other!
When she goes from earth away,
We'll find out while we stray,
A boy's best friend is his mother.

3. Her fond and gentle face not long may greet us here;
Then cheer her with our kindness and our love!
Remember at her knee in childhood bright and dear,
We heard her voice like angel's from above!
Tho' after years may bring their gladness or their woe,
Her love is sweeter far than any other!
And our longing heart will learn,
Wherever we may turn,
A boy's best friend is his mother.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: A Boy's Best Friend Is His Mother
From: GUEST,Myron Rosenberg
Date: 12 May 13 - 02:37 PM

There seems to be a dispute that I cannot resolve. If you Google Joseph Howard, you will find in Wikipedia the story of his life. It states he wrote this song, presumably with his wife Ida Emerson, and at a much later date than the 1880's.

Myron Rosenberg
[e-mail]
[phone]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: A Boy's Best Friend Is His Mother
From: Mick Pearce (MCP)
Date: 12 May 13 - 03:47 PM

It seems unlikely Myron. The score Jim linked above at Levy is a labelled revised edition and is dated 1884. The British Library has 3 scores, dated 1885, 1889 and 1890. All gives the credits as above (except the score at Levy gives the name as Harry Miller, elsewhere H.Miller or Henry Miller as above).

Joseph Howard was born in 1878 according to the wikipedia article, and seem unlikely to have written a song published in the 1880s! At a quick look, all the references look like they might be copies of the wikipedia article, which I presume is in error. (Or else he wrote a same-named song later; though a search for him and the song-name together only produces these articles as far as I can see).

Mick

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: A Boy's Best Friend Is His Mother
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 13 May 13 - 12:46 PM

I'm afraid I had the same instinct as mousethief. The song that we called "The Horses Run Around" has the line "and a boys best friend is his mother." As a nonsense song it may have been pulling from the original source that is featured in this thread, though I think the adage has been around for a very long time.

SRS

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: A Boy's Best Friend Is His Mother
From: clueless don
Date: 14 May 13 - 08:35 AM

Of course, this song reminds me of the Irish song "A Mother's Love is a Blessing".

Don

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: A Boy's Best Friend Is His Mother
From: GUEST,Garry
Date: 20 Oct 17 - 09:21 PM

You might be interested to know that Anne Reid sings this song as one of the 'interludes' in the current production of 'A Woman of No Importance' at the Vaudeville Theatre in London.

Subject: Lyr Req: A BOY'S BEST FRIEND IS HIS MOTHER
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 14 Feb 19 - 08:57 PM

Another song with the same title, from the Library of Congress:


A BOY’S BEST FRIEND IS HIS MOTHER.
Words and music by Ben Williams, ©1883.

1. I’ve been thinking, of late, of the time that’s passed away,
Of friends in whom I could confide;
Of my dear old mother’s knee which around I used to play.
How I missed her sweet face when she died!
How well her I loved, no one can tell.
Like her, I could never love another.
It always gave her joy to kiss her darling boy.
I’ve found that my best friend was my mother!

CHORUS: So do what you can for her while she is here.
Don’t trust in your sister or your brother.
Oh, the friend in my need was a friend to me indeed.
God bless her, my own dear mother.

2. When you’re sick in your bed and your money is all gone,
Then by your friends you will be scorned;
But your mother she will watch by your bedside night and day,
And pray for you ev’ry eve and morn.
When you are in trouble, on friends you call;
What good is your sister or your brother?
From you they’ll turn away, so think of what I say:
You’ll find that your best friend is your mother.

3. Now always try and treat your old mother with respect,
For she’s the one that cares for you;
So remember what I say, and never once neglect
Your old mother so tried and so true;
For when she is laid in her cold grave,
Like her you will never find another;
And when the scented flow’rs so sadly o’er her wave,
You’ll find that your best friend was your mother.

Subject: Lyr Add: A BOY'S BEST FRIEND IS HIS MOTHER (Mills)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 15 Feb 19 - 12:27 AM

This reads like a paraphrase of the version posted above—but it could be the other way around.

From the Library of Congress:


A BOY’S BEST FRIEND IS HIS MOTHER.
Words and music by Frank Mills, ©1883.

1. I’ve been thinking, of late, of the days passed away,
And friends that would stand by my side;
Of mother so dear, ‘round whose knees I would play.
I missed her sweet face when she died.
How well I loved her, there’s no heart now could tell.
Like her, I could ne’er love another;
And since, I have learned this sad lesson too well:
A boy’s best friend is his mother.

CHORUS: Oh, treat her then kindly, while she’s with you here.
When gone you will ne’er get another.
A friend in your need, and a true friend indeed—
A boy’s best friend is his mother.

2. When the world wandered by with a frown or a sneer,
Her smile it was constant and true.
Her arms were a refuge so loving and dear
When friends that I needed were few.
A sweet word of comfort she gave evermore
To me and to sister and brother.
You’ll find, though you search the whole universe o’er,
That a boy’s best friend is his mother.

3. Oh, then treat your old mother with love and respect,
For she is the one cares for you;
And never for once your dear mother neglect—
Your mother so kind and so true;
For when she is laid down to rest in the grave,
Like her you will ne’er find another.
You’ll know, when the flow’rs sadly over her wave
That a boy’s best friend is his mother.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: A Boy's Best Friend Is His Mother
From: GUEST,Rob
Date: 23 May 19 - 11:43 AM

ALvar Smith from Suffolk sings a very differnt version. The Chorus starts 'For you know that I love you more than words can say,
You'll break my old heart if you go away
Though you and your sweetheart may fondly love each other
You can get a sweetheart any day
But you can't get another mother

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: A Boy's Best Friend Is His Mother
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Dec 19 - 02:19 PM

She feeds the baby garlic to find him in the dark
A Boy's Best Friend is his Mother!