Lyr Add: Never Mind (WWI parody + original)

Subject: Lyr Add: NEVER MIND (WWI parody)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 27 Apr 19 - 08:01 PM

From Tommy's Tunes: A Comprehensive Collection of Soldiers' Songs, Marching Melodies, [etc.] by Frederick Thomas Nettleingham (London: Erskine Macdonald, Ltd., 1917), page 28:

NEVER MIND.^[1]
(New Version.)

Though your heart may ache awhile, never mind,
Though your heart may ache awhile, never mind,
You'll forget about it soon,
When you've had a good old spoon,
And your heart, it aches no more, never mind.

If the Sergeant's pinched your rum—never mind,
If the Sergeant's on the bum^[2]—never mind.
If he collars all your fags,
And you've nothing on but rags,
It's his affair—not yours—so never mind.

If the Sergeant says you’re daft—never mind.
Maybe you are—who knows?—never mind.
It's no use to answer back,
'Cos he won't stand any slack,^[3]
So if he says you're daft—then you are.

The following has reference to a certain R.F.C. sergeant, who went to fetch rations in a sidecar, the light tender usually employed for this purpose being otherwise engaged. Not being able to get it all in, he tied the bread round the side and back. When he arrived at the unit, not unnaturally the bread was “napoo.”^[4]

At lunch-time you might have heard a serenade to the following effect:

If the Sergeant's lost your bread—never mind.
If he sticks it round a side car—never mind.
And even if it's messed—
He did it for the best,
For he's the Sergeant—dontcherknow—so never mind.

1. This song, with its many verses, shows Tommy as a confirmed fatalist.
2. On the borrow.
3. Cheek.
4. “Napoo"–Tommy's version of “Il n'y-a plus;” used in divers senses, usually to say: no more; not there; gone. Used in the same sense as Vamoosed.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Never Mind (WWI parody + original)
From: GUEST,A Bored Stranger
Date: 07 Apr 19 - 03:37 PM

If your sleeping place is damp, never mind,
If you wake up with a cramp, never mind,
If your trench should fall in some,
Fill your ears and make you dumb,
Whilst the sergeant drinks your rum, never minds

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Never Mind (WWI parody + original)
From: GUEST
Date: 20 Oct 15 - 05:34 AM

Though your heart may ache a while Never mind
Though your face may lose its smile never mind (Oh never mind )
There'll be Sunshine after rain and forgiveness full of pain
You'll be Happy once again never mind (Oh Never mind)

My Dad Barney taught me it xxxx in memory of Dad xxx

Subject: Lyr Add: NEVER MIND (Harry Dent/Tom Goldburn)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 02 Dec 13 - 11:02 PM

NEVER MIND
Written by Harry Dent & Tom Goldburn.
As recorded by Walter Duncan, 1914. (Included on "Oh! It's a Lovely War, Vol. 3" (2003))

"Oh, he wants you to forget him," said a grey-haired man in tears,
As he read his daughter's letter, still a girl of tender years.
"He has left you for another that has crept into his heart.
Just forgive him and forget him; 'twould be better so to part."
Then as he gently stroked her head,
In tender tones to her he said:

"Though your heart may ache awhile, never mind.
Though your face may lose its smile, never mind;
For there's sunshine after rain,
And there's gladness follows pain.
You'll be happy once again; never mind."

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Never Mind
From: Nynia
Date: 20 Feb 01 - 06:23 PM

Hi Joe, yep a typo, good spot.


Nynia.

---

Thread closed temporarily because it's been a target for a heavy barrage of Spam. If you have something to add to the discussion, contact me and I'll reopen it.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Never Mind
From: Joe Offer
Date: 20 Feb 01 - 05:59 PM

I found a slightly different version on a page which explains that the war song is a parody of the the lyrics Bill posted. It's mixed in with a collection of interesting "trench songs" Here (click).

Never Mind

If the sergeant drinks your rum, never mind
And your face may lose its smile, never mind
He's entitled to a tot but not the bleeding lot
If the sergeant drinks your rum, never mind

When old Jerry shells your trench, never mind
And your face may lose its smile, never mind
Though the sandbags bust and fly you have only once to die,
If old Jerry shells the trench, never mind

If you get stuck on the wire, never mind
And your face may lose its smile, never mind
Though you're stuck there all the day, they count you dead and stop your pay
If you get stuck on the wire, never mind

If the sergeant says you're mad, never mind
P'raps you are a little bit, never mind
Just be calm don't answer back, cause the sergeant stands no slack
So if he says you're mad, well - you are.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Never Mind
From: Joe Offer
Date: 20 Feb 01 - 05:30 PM

Any chance somebody can e-mail a tune to me, preferably in Noteworthy Composer format with lyrics?
Click here for lyrics from Oh, What a Lovely War, including this song. Nynia, I guess the sergeant in the first verse is a sot, right?

-Joe Offer (click to e-mail)-

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Never Mind
From: Nynia
Date: 20 Feb 01 - 05:03 PM

Thanks Bill, I did't have that verse, but I'll sing it now, is it the last verse it sounds like it might be. Bugsy - sorry that's all I know, Billy Henderson (ex Black-Eyed Biddy) used to sing it at Dumfries Folksong Club many moons ago.


Nynia.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Never Mind ^^
From: bill\sables
Date: 19 Feb 01 - 08:22 PM

The origional song was written in 1913 by Harry Dent and Tom Goldburn

Though your heart may ache a while, never mind
Though your face may loose it's smile, never mind
For there's sunshine after rain,and then gladness follows pain
You'll be happy once again, never mind

It was published by the Daily Express in 1930 in the series "Songs that Won the War" and issued in its "Community Song Book No.3"
Bill^^

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Never Mind
From: Bugsy
Date: 19 Feb 01 - 08:00 PM

Thank you for posting that song Nynia. It is obviously a song from WWI but do you have any background on it?

CHeers

Bugsy

Subject: Lyr Add: NEVER MIND (trad WWI soldier's song)^^
From: Nynia
Date: 19 Feb 01 - 07:44 PM

Lyrics posted as per request fron D.G.


Never Mind.

If the sergeant steals your rum, never mind
If the sergeant steals your rum, never mind
Though he's just a noisy sot,
You can let him have the lot
If the sergeant steals your rum, never mind

If you get caught on the wire, never mind
If you get caught on the wire, never mind
They'll leave you hanging there all day,
They'll say you're dead and stop your pay
If you get caught on the wire, never mind

If old gerry shells your trench, never mind
If old gerry shells your trench, never mind
Though the sandbags burst and fly,
You've only once to die
So if old gerry shells your trench, never mind

If your mate just lost his sight, never mind
And he screamed the whole damned night, never mind
'though they'll send him home it's tough,
He'll be great for blind-man's bluff
So if your mate just lost his sight, never mind

If the sergeant says you're mad, never mind
Perhaps you are a little bit, never mind
Just stay calm don't answer back,
For the sarge he stands no slack
So if the sergeant says you're mad, never mind
Oh yes you are

All the best,


Nynia. ^^