ADD: Keep Your Hand on Your Ha'penny (Glasgow)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Keep Your Hand on Your Ha'penny (Glasgow)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 12 Jan 10 - 09:20 PM

From Shorter Dictionary of Catch Phrases compiled by Rosalind Fergusson from the work of Eric Partridge & Paul Beale (London: Routledge, 1994), page 80:

keep your hand on your ha'penny   a piece of advice to an unmarried girl (from the use of the word ha'penny as a slang term for the female genitals); the full form is ...till the right man turns up. The phrase dates from around 1880 in this usage; during the 20th century it acquired the secondary meaning 'be careful or you'll find yourself expensively involved'. Both senses are now obsolescent. A variant of the phrase has threepenny bit in place of ha'penny.

*
However, the oldest example I can find with Google Books is in The Darling Buds of May by H. E. Bates (London: Book Club, 1958), page 118:

'See you soon!' she waved.
'Any time,' Pop said. He laughed merrily. 'Don't do anything I wouldn't do. Keep your hand on your ha'penny.'

*
So the proverb goes back to the 1880s, but I can't find any evidence that there was a song by that name before Alex Glasgow.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Keep Your Hand on Your Ha'penny (Glasgow)
From: Tug the Cox
Date: 11 Jan 10 - 09:20 AM

In the Midlands the same part of the anatomy is referred to as 'your tuppence', even though there was never a tuppeny coin.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Keep Your Hand on Your Ha'penny (Glasgow)
From: GUEST,999
Date: 10 Jan 10 - 07:42 PM

Canadian version of the other :-)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Keep Your Hand on Your Ha'penny (Glasgow)
From: GUEST,999
Date: 10 Jan 10 - 07:38 PM

Lest we forget.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Keep Your Hand on Your Ha'penny (Glasgow)
From: GUEST,999
Date: 10 Jan 10 - 07:35 PM

Dang. Me too. The coin. Not the other . . . .

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Keep Your Hand on Your Ha'penny (Glasgow)
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 10 Jan 10 - 07:29 PM

I cannot help wondering whence the "ha'penny" nomenclature for something which in my (admittedly limited) experience bears no resemblance whatsoever to a ha'penny (and I am in fact old enough to remember what a ha'penny looked, and felt, like.)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Keep Your Hand on Your Ha'penny (Glasgow)
From: JHW
Date: 10 Jan 10 - 05:12 PM

My vinyl LP MWM1009 Date1975 Credits Alex Glasgow - Essex Music
I could play it and transcribe here if anyone's still interested?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Keep Your Hand on Your Ha'penny (Glasgow)
From: Tug the Cox
Date: 09 Jan 10 - 08:07 PM

It was sung as a party piece in the film of DH Lawrences ' the Virgin and the gypsy' with Franco Nero and Joanna Shimkus.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Keep Your Hand on Your Ha'penny (Glasgow)
From: GUEST,999-- it's on YOUTUBE (I think with lyrics
Date: 09 Jan 10 - 12:42 AM

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

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Keep Your Hand on Your Ha'penny (Glasgow)
From: GUEST
Date: 08 Jan 10 - 03:46 PM

Peter Foye

Just seen your web site.

I had the LP many years ago recorded by The Fivepenny Piece.

They do have a web site.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Keep Your Hand on Your Ha'penny (Glasgow)
From: Michael
Date: 05 Mar 09 - 04:54 AM

Inflationary note:-

I only know the phrase, with same meaning, as "Keep your hands on ypur tuppence"

Mike

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Keep Your Hand on Your Ha'penny (Glasgow)
From: katlaughing
Date: 04 Mar 09 - 11:45 PM

Thanks for that, Jim.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Keep Your Hand on Your Ha'penny (Glasgow)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 04 Mar 09 - 09:04 PM

This phrase is probably unfamiliar to non-Brits.

Here's the entry from Eric Partridge & Paul Beale, "A Dictionary of Catch Phrases" (2nd edition – London: Routledge, 1986):

Keep your hand on your ha'penny (till the right man turns up) is 'an old piece of advice to an unmarried girl' (Petch, 1969): c. 1880-1970, but little used since c. 1960. Lit. 'Keep your hand over your genitals until...' The orig. is of linguistic interest, for Grose, 1785, has money, as in a domestic nurse's admonition to a female child, 'You're showing your money', in the sense 'vulva'. There is a var., three penny bit; and the expression acquired a secondary meaning: 'Be careful or you'll find yourself expensively involved': C20; by 1970, ob. (Skehan, 1977.)

The phrase occurs in H.E. Bates' novel, "The Darling Buds of May", 1958:

'See you soon!' she waved. 'Any time,' Pop said. He laughed merrily. 'Don't do anything I wouldn't do. Keep your hand on your ha'penny ...'

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Keep Your Hand on Your Ha'penny (Glasgow)
From: GUEST,Baz
Date: 03 Mar 09 - 09:59 AM

Does anyone know a tune for 'Keep Your Hand On Your Ha'penny'? I use a simple three chord rythm in Waltz time, but would like something better

Subject: RE: Lyr. Req.Keep your hand on your ha'penny
From: DMcG
Date: 20 Aug 07 - 04:08 PM

It was written by Alex Glasgow, I believe. I have the words somewhere, but it begins

When Molly began to go courting,
Her mother was anxious to tell
How certain young fellas would want her
To stray down the pathway to Hell.
So Molly's old ma used to say:-

Keep yer 'and on yer ha'penny,
Cover it well with yer palm.
Keep yer 'and on yer ha'penny,
And Molly will come to no harm.

Subject: RE: Lyr. Req.Keep your hand on your ha'penny
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 20 Aug 07 - 04:05 PM

Try a Wurzels website - recorded by the only Scottish Wurzel in captivity.

LTS

Subject: Lyr. Req.Keep your hand on your ha'penny
From: GUEST,Warwick Slade
Date: 20 Aug 07 - 02:20 PM

I was asked if I knew this song but unfortunately not. Does anyone know word and music? I think I can guess the sentiment!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Keep Your Hand On Your Ha'penny
From: DMcG
Date: 06 May 06 - 11:47 AM

On balance, it is probably 'covert' rather than 'covers'; woodland being more likely than a cricket pitch!

Subject: Lyr Add: KEEP YOUR 'AND ON YOUR 'A'PENNY (Glasgow)
From: DMcG
Date: 06 May 06 - 11:32 AM

It's another Alex Glasgow one. Working from memory:


When Molly began to go courting,
Her mother was anxious to tell
He certain young fellas would want her
To stray down the pathway to 'ell
So Molly's old ma used to say:

Keep your 'and on your 'appenny,
Cover it well with your palm
Keep your 'and on your 'appenny,
And Molly will come to no harm.

They'll hug you and kiss you so sweetly
They make you feel ever so nice
But 'andle the fellas discretely
And follow this simple advice:

Keep your 'and ...

When Molly and I went out courting,
I told her she'd nothing to fear
But down in the covers last Sunday
I whispered these words in her ear:

Take your 'and off your 'appenny
Look into my bonny blue eyes
Take your 'and off your 'appenny
And I'll give you - a lovely surprise!

Subject: Lyr Req: Keep Your Hand On Your Ha'penny
From: GUEST,Mad for trad
Date: 06 May 06 - 10:37 AM

Any words for this song? Keep your hand on your ha'penny, Cover it o're with your hand.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Keep your hand on your ha'penny
From: Mac Tattie
Date: 17 Sep 01 - 02:14 PM

Geoff the Duck, that would make him about 120 years old. This is an OLD music hall song, late 1800 or so. Although no doubt he (Alex Glasgow)was a capable enough writer to add a verse or two. cheers.

---

Threads combined. Messages below are from a new thread.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Keep your hand on your ha'penny
From: Geoff the Duck
Date: 16 Sep 01 - 03:38 PM

If I recall correctly, the song credits stated that it was written by Alex Glasgow.
Geoff.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Keep your hand on your ha'penny
From: clansfolk
Date: 16 Sep 01 - 07:24 AM

Fellow UK Mudcatter John Bond of Penny Black recorded this song on his CD "Before it's too late" - the MP3 version is available online here.

Pete

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Keep your hand on your ha'penny
From: Mac Tattie
Date: 16 Sep 01 - 06:41 AM

Thanks to one and all. I'm shure there is more to this song, at least I now have two more verses than I started with. cheers.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Keep your hand on your ha'penny
From: Sorcha
Date: 16 Sep 01 - 03:01 AM

MWALLLA!! GOOD ON YOUSE!! I didn't find anything on the 'net.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Keep your hand on your ha'penny
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 16 Sep 01 - 02:56 AM

The (post Adge Cutler) Wurzels recorded this, it's on one of their LP's but as my mother took them to New Zealand (hooray) I can't tell you which one. It was in the mid to late 1970's though.

LTS

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Keep your hand on your ha'penny
From: DMcG
Date: 15 Sep 01 - 02:40 PM

The missing words, affrom memory again!

When Molly and I went out courting
I told her she'd nothing to fear
But down in the meadow last Sunday
I whispered these words in her ear

Take your hand off your ha'penny
Look into my bonny blue eyes
Take your hand off your ha'penny
And I'll give you --- a lovely surprise! ^^

Subject: ADD: Keep your hand on your ha'penny^^
From: DMcG
Date: 15 Sep 01 - 02:35 PM

Alex Glasgow recorded a version on "songs og Alex Glagow II", MWM Records 1009. As best I remember it it is went

When Molly began to go courting
Her mother was anxious to tell
How certain young fellas would want her
to stray down the pathway to 'ell
So Molly's old ma used to say:

Keep your hand on your ha'penny
Cover it well with your palm
Keep your hand on your ha'penny
And Molly will come to no harm

They'll hug you and kiss you so sweetly
They'll make you feel ever so nice,
But handle the fellas discretely
And follow this simple advice:

Keep ...

When Molly and I went out walking
(I forget the rest of the verse, sorry ... I'll play the track again if you needs it: but 'the fella's says)

Take your hand of your ha'penny
Look into my bonny blue eyes
Take your hand of your ha'penny
And I'll give you --- a lovely surprise!^^

Subject: Keep your hand on your ha'penny
From: Mac Tattie
Date: 15 Sep 01 - 05:29 AM

Anyone Know the words to this music hall song? Anyone know who wrote and sang this? Anyone know any recorded versions? cheers.