Lyr Add: Our Lodger's Such a Nice Young Man

Subject: Lyr Add: OUR LODGER'S SUCH A NICE YOUNG MAN
From: Charley Noble
Date: 24 May 03 - 10:48 AM

Here's another Music Hall jewel which I've finally tracked down the words to. I've had fragments of this for years in the form of a photocopy of the original sheet music but now via the world-wide-web:

OUR LODGER'S SUCH A NICE YOUNG MAN
(By Fred Murray & Laurence Barclay, © circa 1900; as sung by Vesta Victoria)

1. At our house not long ago a lodger came to stay,
At first I felt as if I'd like to drive him right away;
But soon he proved himself to be so very good and kind,
That, like my dear mamma, I quite made up my little mind.

CHORUS: Our lodger's such a nice young man, such a good young man is he;
So good, so kind, to all our family!
He's never going to leave us. Oh dear, oh dear no!
He's such a good, goody, goody man. Mamma told me so.

2. He made himself at home before he'd been with us a day,
He kissed Mamma and all of us, 'cos Papa was away;
Before he goes to work he lights the fires and scrubs the floor,
And puts a nice strong cup of tea outside Ma's bedroom door. CHO

3. At night he makes the beds and does the other little jobs
And if the baby hurts itself he really cries and sobs;
On Sunday when Ma's cooking and Papa is at the club,
He takes the kids and baths us all inside the washing tub. CHO

4. We usually go to Margate, in the sea to have a splash,
This year Pa said, "I'm busy!" but I think he had no cash;
The lodger took us down instead, Mamma and baby too,
And never charged Pa anything- now there's a pal for you! CHO

Cordially,
Landlady's Daughter

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Our Lodger's Such a Nice Young Man
From: Charley Noble
Date: 25 May 03 - 07:26 PM

Refresh!

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Our Lodger's Such a Nice Young Man
From: GUEST
Date: 26 May 03 - 07:24 AM

A Picture of the original illustrated sheet-music cover and a short biog of Vesta are on www.ameranthdesign.ca/musichall/past/victoria.htm

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Our Lodger's Such a Nice Young Man
From: Charley Noble
Date: 26 May 03 - 08:13 AM

Guest, that's the website that I also found. Unfortunately it doesn't include the music. However, it does as you mention provide a lot of detail about Vesta Victoria, one of the most prominant music hall singers of her day. I first ran across the cover to the sheetmusic, which includes fragments of the lyrics, in Peter Davison's brilliant SONGS OF THE BRITISH MUSIC HALL by Oak Publications.

LD

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Our Lodger's Such a Nice Young Man
From: GUEST,Jim Ward
Date: 26 May 03 - 10:04 AM

Charley- Sorry I didn't put my name to previous post (pressed submit without thinking). If you or anybody else wants the full story of Vesta Victoria there are 39 pages about her in Tony Barker's "Music Hall" magazine, no 35. Tony's biogs are based on newspaper and trade paper reports from the period and are illustrated. As well as details of her amazing career and the songs she sang on the music halls both in Britain and the USA, it also includes details of her turbulent love life.
Tony does not appear to have a web site but write to him at Music Hall, 68 Hawkes Road, Mitcham, Surrey. CR4 3JG. and he'll send a list of available back numbers and also the excellent music hall CD's he produces.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Our Lodger's Such a Nice Young Man
From: Charley Noble
Date: 26 May 03 - 10:11 AM

Thanks, Jim, for the address info. I'll be sure to follow it up.

LD