Lyr Req: Music Hall songs

Subject: Music Hall Song Lyrics
From:
Date: 17 Aug 98 - 09:58 AM

Does anyone out there have any lyrics for any of the great old music hall songs (Victorian England)- or that genre - I've searched wherever I could, with no success!
Particularly interested in :
Lilly the Pink
Down at the Old Bull and Bush
After the ball was over

etc etc..

any takers?

Liz

Subject: RE: Music Hall Song Lyrics
From: Wolfgang Hell
Date: 17 Aug 98 - 10:10 AM

Liz,

two of them can be found in the Digitrad Database (upper right hand corner for an easy search; sorry, not so easy, spell "lily" to find one of them).

Wolfgang

Subject: Lyr Add: BULL AND BUSH
From: Wolfgang
Date: 17 Aug 98 - 10:52 AM

Come and make eyes at me

Come, come, come
And make eyes at me
Down at the Old Bull and Bush,
Come, come, drink
Some port wine with me
Down at the Old Bull and Bush,
Hear the little German band,
Ta-ra-ra-ra-ra-ra-rah.
Just let me hold your hand, dear.
Do, do come and have a drink or two
Down at the Old Bull and Bush.

from a songbook in the web

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: Music Hall Song Lyrics
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 17 Aug 98 - 11:00 AM

Hi Wolfgang--

Do you have the URL for that songbook?

Subject: RE: Music Hall Song Lyrics
From: Wolfgang
Date: 17 Aug 98 - 11:11 AM

Sorry Dick,

I usually do not forget to give this information. Here is the access to letter C of that songbook: http://mypage.direct.ca/f/fstringe/singc.html#C448

The other letters are easy to access from there.

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: Music Hall Song Lyrics
From: Richard Wright
Date: 17 Aug 98 - 04:01 PM

I can't remember the thread but Joe Offer talked about a new site he had found for sheet music. It really is wonderful. My bookmark says: The Lester S. Levy Music Collection - Homepage. Try it--you'll like it.

Also, there are some collections of these type of songs in libraries that I have looked at, but don't have the titles. If you are near a major centre you should be able to find them.

Richard

Subject: RE: Music Hall Song Lyrics
From: Earl
Date: 17 Aug 98 - 04:02 PM

While we're on the subject, could anyone recommend any currently available recordings of music hall songs? I haven't had much luck looking in the usual sources.

Subject: RE: Music Hall Song Lyrics
From: jean
Date: 18 Aug 98 - 02:35 PM

Are you familiar with David Jones? He gave a class in British Music Hall music at the Augusta Festival in West Virginia. He could probably be contacted by writing him care of NY Pinewoods folk Music Club, 817 Broadway, 6th fl, NYC 10003.

Subject: RE: Music Hall Song Lyrics
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 18 Aug 98 - 11:23 PM

If you search for the keyword @musichall, you's get fifteen or so lyrics.

Subject: RE: Music Hall Song Lyrics
From: Joe Offer
Date: 19 Aug 98 - 02:04 AM

Or, follow the "Support Mudcat" links to one of the online music sources, and search album titles under "Music Hall" or "Vaudeville." You'll find a few that look interesting. CDNow, for one, will than suggest others in the category that might interest you.
I have one music hall CD I really like, one by tenor Jerry Hadley on RCA called "Golden Days - Rimberg/Friml/Herbert." Some aren't the humorous type that you might associate with "music hall" songs, but there are some real gems on the album.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Music Hall Song Lyrics
From: AndyG
Date: 19 Aug 98 - 04:44 AM

Hi Wolfgang,
I don't know, and haven't time to check the DT this morning, to see which are there so here's a link to my songbook, there are 15 Music Hall and parlour songs there for your delectation and delight.
Many are taken from the singing of Cosmotheka.

AndyG

Subject: RE: Music Hall Song Lyrics
From: Ralph Butts
Date: 19 Aug 98 - 07:39 AM

Nice work Andy. Thanks for the pointer.........Tiger

Subject: RE: Music Hall Song Lyrics
From: Ralph Butts
Date: 23 Aug 98 - 08:35 AM

Liz..... Check his link for mention of a wonderful album of turn of the century songs. ....Tiger

http://www.mudcat.org/Detail.CFM?messages__Message_ID=1603

Subject: RE: Music Hall Song Lyrics
From: Ralph Butts
Date: 23 Aug 98 - 08:52 AM

Liz, et al........

If anyone's interested, that album is still available on CD at CDWorld, at:

http://www.cdworld.com/cgi-bin/prodinfo?7559700791482&6667221

The vinyl dates from '74, the CD is 1987, so you can see it has staying power. The CD has six additional cuts not on the original vinyl. The link above also has RealAudio samples for this album. I recommend it without reserve - it's a marvelous collection.

....Tiger

Subject: RE: Music Hall Song Lyrics
From: Earl
Date: 14 Sep 98 - 12:21 PM

I just got a CD from Amazon called "Cockney Kings of Music Hall." It has 25 humorous music hall songs recorded by various artists between 1899 and 1931. Included are some songs that have been the subject of other threads like "If It Wasn't For the 'ouses In Between" and "The King of Karactacus." Definately worthwhile.

Subject: RE: Music Hall Song Lyrics
From: Celtic-End Singer
Date: 07 Oct 98 - 10:11 AM

May I suggest "Abdul Abulbul Amir" it's in the database but not indexed by the "musichall" keyword. It's a really great song.

Subject: Lyr Add: MARY ANN
From: Jack (Who is called Jack)
Date: 07 Oct 98 - 01:54 PM

I have a Friends of Fiddler's Green tape on which they do a few Music Hall Numbers. Its called "The Road to Mandalay".

In it there's a song called Mary Ann

I've almost got all the Lyrics, but there's one line I just can't get.

It starts off

Well I never thought much about females
Till a couple of months ago
When I thought I saw one of them looking at me
MY MOTHER TOLD ME SO! (as chorus)
That damsel's name was Mary Ann
And she looked at me one day.
I told mother and mother told me
In a motherly kind of way that...

(chorus)
Mary Ann she's after me
Full of love she seems to be
My mother says that it's plain to see
That she wants me for her young man.
Father says, "If that be true"
John my lad be thankful do
That there's one bigger fool in the world than you
And that's Mary Ann

Anyone know a source for the rest

---

See this thread for full lyrics (click)

Subject: Folklore: Music Hall Songs
From: GUEST,Allen
Date: 31 May 05 - 03:16 PM

This is an article from a WWI site about the end of music hall era, with sound files.
Music Hall

Subject: RE: Folklore: Music Hall Songs
From: Little Robyn
Date: 31 May 05 - 03:45 PM

An interesting site. I found Willie McBride!
And the youngest soldier killed in action - aged 13! He must have been a big lad? That's worthy of a song, surely? ERIC! Where are you!
Robyn

Subject: RE: Music Hall Song Lyrics
From: GUEST,Paula
Date: 20 Mar 07 - 05:17 PM

My father was a great music hall buff and knew all the words to some of the funniest songs. Has anyone out there ever heard of the following song and do they know who sang it and/or wrote it?:

'There once was a man and he was an encyclopeadia.
He could tell you how many stars in the sky and the height of every star.
He'd stand on a slope with a big telecope and stare at Venus hard, till all the stars in the gurdy Mars complained to Scotland Yard for...


Chorus;
:... he knew all about emology, hebrew, shebru, jujuology, sintax, tintax, hobnail-boot tax, he was full as a Pickford's Van.
Those who quacked and quacked out medicine, swore his jaw was more than Edison, simply because, people said he was, Dan, Dan, the scientific man.

He'd a nose like a parrot and the colour of a carrot and a Roman walked on top.
He'd a long white neck like an old hen-peck and a face like a fried- fish shop.
He used to say that the milky way was cows from the Isle of Wight.
He'd analyse frogs from the Isle of Dogs and set the Thames alight. for...

Repeat chorus:...'

Thankyou.

Subject: RE: Music Hall Song Lyrics
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 20 Mar 07 - 06:18 PM

One may find a lot of the old time songs by going through the comprehensive lists of songs and performing artists in Michael Kilgarriff, 1998, "Sing Us One of the Old Songs," A Guide to Popular Song 1860-1920, Oxford University Press.
Check the song titles against the several sites which have song sheets and/or sheet music, such as the Levy Collection, American Memory, The Bodleian Library, National Library of Scotland, and the Murray Collection, as well as google, and a number of them will be found.

There also is a volume covering older material, but can't remember it offhand.

Subject: RE: Music Hall Song Lyrics
From: GUEST,Dave Hunt
Date: 20 Mar 07 - 10:39 PM

Quite a bit of stuff on this site

http://www.amaranthdesign.ca/musichall/home.htm

Dave

Subject: RE: Music Hall Song Lyrics
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 23 Oct 07 - 06:35 PM

I found this quote at a web site called Open Writing. It doesn't give a title or any other useful information, though:

I once knew a man and he was an encyclopaedia.
He could tell the weight of the moon to an ounce
And the name of every star.
He'd stand on a slope with a big telescope
And squint at Venus hard
Till all the pas of the girls on Mars
Complained to Scotland Yard.
For he knew all about etymology
Hebrew, Shebrew, ju-ju ology
Shin tacks, tin tacks, hob-nailed boot jacks.
He was full as a Pickfords' van.
He'd jaw for a week on ancient Greek
And speak of Plato too,
Of pots and pans and things in cans
And owls that went too-woo.
He'd analyse frogs from the Isle of Dogs
And set the Thames alight
Eat fish and chips and peas with pips
And give us all a fright.

Subject: RE: Music Hall Song Lyrics
From: Santa
Date: 24 Oct 07 - 05:29 AM

Many of the music hall songs from the North East of England are still being sung by today's singers. Cushy Butterfield, Bonnie Gateshead Lass, The Lass Doon On the Quay, Keep Your Feet Still Geordie Hinny, Blaydon Races. These are fairly easy to track down.

I think that this is also true, if to as lightly less extent, in the North West, although Rawtenstall Fair is the only one that comes to mind at the moment.

My (limited) understanding is that similar local music hall cultures existed across the country, rather than there being a single geographic source. What the proportion was on local songs to "national" favourites, I've no idea.

Are you only interested in the great national favourites?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Music Hall songs
From: GUEST,lillian
Date: 26 Dec 07 - 08:47 AM

my father sang this to me when I was a child does anyone know anything about it?

Once I had a wee brown hen
it had a wee brown tail
I sent it for a ounce of snuff
and it never came back again

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Music Hall songs
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 26 Dec 07 - 09:00 AM

"Are you only interested in the great national favourites?"

Santa, I am interested in anything that is 'interesting'...

well, you know what I mean...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Music Hall songs
From: Fliss
Date: 26 Dec 07 - 06:55 PM

SCAFFOLD - LILY THE PINK
(trad; bew: J. Gorman; M. McGear; R. McGough)
Parlophone R 5734


We'll drink the drink to drink
To Lilly the pink, the pink, the pink
The saviour of the human race
She invented medicinal compound
She was efficacious in every case

Mr Fleers had sticky out ears
And it made him awful shy
So they gave him medicinal compound
Now he's learning how to fly

Rubber Tony was known to be boney
He would never eat his meals
So they gave him medicinal compound
Now they move him round on wheels

We'll drink the drink to drink
To Lilly the pink, the pink, the pink
The saviour of the human race
She invented medicinal compound
She was efficacious in every case

Ebenezer thought he was Julius Ceasar
So they put him in a home
Where they gave him medicinal compound
Now he's Emperor of Rome

Johnny Hammer had a terrible s-stammer
He could hardly s-say a word
So they gave him medicinal compound
Now he's seen, but never heard

Anty Millie ran willy-nilly
And her legs, they did recede
So they looked up medicinal compound
Now they call her Millipede

Jennifer Eccles had terrible freckles
And all the boys called her names
But she changed with medicinal compound
Now she joins in all the games

We'll drink the drink to drink
To Lilly the pink, the pink, the pink
The saviour of the human race
She invented medicinal compound
She was efficacious in every case

Lilly, the pink, she turned to drink
She filled up the bar with everything in sight
And in spite her medicinal compound
Sadly, pickle-Lilly died

Up to Heaven, her soul assended
All the church bells, they did ring
She took with her medicinal compound
Hark the herald angel sing

We'll drink the drink to drink
To Lilly the pink, the pink, the pink
The saviour of the human race
She invented medicinal compound
She was efficacious in every case

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Music Hall songs
From: Bainbo
Date: 26 Dec 07 - 07:16 PM

I heard the words slightly differently, Fliss

I think it's:

*Most efficacious in every case

*"Brother Tony..." rather than "Rubber Tony..."

*Aunty Millie ... so they rubbed on medicinal compound...

(This change is a crucial one for the joke in the verse)
*Jennifer Eccles ... Now he joins in all the games


*"Lily, the pink, she
Turned to drink, she
Filled up with paraffin inside
And despite her medicinal compound
Sadly pickled, Lily died."

A very silly song, though none the worse for that, and always a good sing-along.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Music Hall songs
From: Stringsinger
Date: 27 Dec 07 - 05:20 PM

Don't forget "Finnegan's Wake". Tommy Makem recorded it although he purported not to like it because it was too negative in its stereotype of the Irish. I think James Joyce like it though.

Frank Hamilton

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Music Hall songs
From: Fliss
Date: 27 Dec 07 - 06:56 PM

Didnt realise Lily the Pink was an old song. Thought the Scaffold had written it. Found the words on an internet site.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Music Hall songs
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 28 Dec 07 - 11:55 AM

Lily the Pink is a degenerate form of an American ode to Lydia Pinkham:
a lady who concocted a tonic (largely alcoholic) for treating "women's complaints", and advertised it in magazine ads featuring a portrait of Ms. Pinkham.

The Ballad of Lydia Pinkham

    Let us sing of Lydia Pinkham
    The benefactress of the human race.
    She invented a vegetable compound,
    And now all papers print her face.

    Mrs. Jones she had no children,
    And she loved them very dear.
    So she took three bottles of Pinkham's
    Now she has twins every year.

    Peter Whelan, he was sad
    Because he only had one nut
    Till he took some of Lydia's compound
    Now they grow in clusters 'round his butt.

etc.etc. ad infinitum

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Music Hall songs
From: Bro. Ray
Date: 29 Dec 07 - 11:52 AM

I am still looking for 'Cover it over quick Jemima'. I have Harry Champion singing it on CD but I cannot get the lyrics (bad recording and he sings so fast).

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Music Hall songs
From: GUEST,David Jones, Guest
Date: 29 Dec 07 - 11:55 PM

Jean noted that I gave a class in Music Hall at Augusta, that was a long time ago. However I still sing many of those old songs and in april will be performing in a Music Hall with Murray Callahan and Jerry Epstein for the New York and Boston Folk Music Societies.
Check out "An Evening at the English Music Hall" from Front Hall Records, recorded live at Troy Music Hall in 1974 it is still available on vinyl. The MC was Tony Barrand and you can hear Lou Killen singing "Last Neet" in broad Geordie dialect.
David Jones

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Music Hall songs
From: GUEST,boohandle
Date: 18 Jul 08 - 06:03 PM

LOOKING FOR UP IN A BALLOON SUNG BY NELLY POWER

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Music Hall songs
From: GUEST,spb-cooperator
Date: 18 Jul 08 - 06:57 PM

After a two-year absence I will be rejoining my old music hall company in September. That will give me an excuse to blow the dust and cobwebs of my 1000-2000 items of sheet music.

Subject: Lyr Add: UP IN A BALLOON
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 21 Jul 08 - 06:50 AM

From the sheet music at The Lester S. Levy Collection of Sheet Music.

There is also a broadside version, with nearly identical lyrics, at The National Library of Scotland.

UP IN A BALLOON.
George W. Hunt
Philadelphia : Lee & Walker, [1868]

1. One night I went up in a balloon,
On a voyage of discov'ry to visit the moon,
Where an old man dwells, so some people say,
"Through cutting of sticks on a Sunday."
Up went the balloon quickly, higher and higher,
Over house-top and chimney-pot, tower and spire.
I knock'd off the Monument's top very high,
And caught hold of the cross of St. Paul's going by.

CHORUS: Up in a balloon, up in a balloon,
All among the little stars, sailing round the moon;
Up in a balloon, up in a balloon—
It's something awful jolly to be up in a balloon.

2. Up, up I was borne with terrible pow'r,
At the rate of ten thousand five hundred an hour.
The air was cold. The wind blew loud.
I narrowly escap'd being chok'd by a cloud.
Still up I went, till surrounded by stars,
And such planets as Jupiter, Venus, and Mars.
The Big and the Little Bear loudly did growl,
And the Dog Star, on seeing me, set up a howl.

3. I met shooting stars who were bent upon sport,
But who "shot" in a very strange manner I thought,
And one thing beat all by chalks, I must say,
That was when I got into the Milky Way.
I counted the stars, till at last I thought
I had found out how much they were worth by the quart.
An unpolite "Aerolite" who ran 'gainst my ear,
Wouldn't give e'er a light to light my cigar!

4. Next a comet went by 'midst fire like hail.
To give me a lift, I seized hold of his tail.
To where he was going I didn't enquire.
We'd gone past the moon till we couldn't get higher.
Yes, we'd got to the furthermost! don't think I joke—
When somehow I felt a great shock—I awoke!
When instead of balloon, moon and planets, I saw
I'd tumbled from off of my bed to the floor!

LAST CHORUS: And there was no balloon, there was no balloon,
There were not any planets, and there wasn't any moon.
So never sup too heavy, or by jingo very soon
You're like to fancy you are going up in a balloon!

---

Click to play

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Music Hall songs
From: GUEST,Marymac90
Date: 21 Jul 08 - 09:54 AM

I know Helen Schneyer has recorded some of this
genre. Whether they're from English Music Hall
or American vaudeville, I can't say for sure.
"Heaven Will Protect the Working Girl" comes to
my mind.

I bet John Roberts and Tony Barrand have
recorded some Music Hall, too, but I can't say
what's on which albums. Hope this is helpful.

Marymac

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Music Hall songs
From: Joe Offer
Date: 30 May 10 - 12:16 AM

MIDI posted - Up in a Balloon. Thanks, AC.

-Joe-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Music Hall songs
From: Gurney
Date: 30 May 10 - 03:01 AM

Only one mention of Cosmotheka? I should think their recordings would be the easiest way to get this genre, in England, anyway. Google them?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Music Hall songs
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 23 Jul 10 - 02:03 PM

I have a video of my 93 year old father in law singing Wireless Worries which he claims is a music hall song. It is quite risque. Anyone heard of it or have the lyrics?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Music Hall songs
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 26 Jul 10 - 12:47 AM

When I Googled for "wireless worries" I found only articles about Wi-Fi security problems.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Music Hall songs
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 26 Jul 10 - 03:57 PM

This is the recording Jim

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zICr5F0Ackk&feature=youtube_gdata

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Music Hall songs
From: Leadfingers
Date: 26 Jul 10 - 05:47 PM

Tam - I must check with Trayton for his source ! This is in HIS Rep of silly Songs !

Subject: Lyr Add: WIRELESS WORRIES
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 27 Jul 10 - 12:38 PM

Here's my transcription from the YouTube video. There are a couple of gaps where I couldn't understand the words. I have numbered the lines to facilitate further discussion.

This tune is a pastiche of several more-or-less familiar tunes. The ones I recognize, I have linked to a Mudcat MIDI file.


WIRELESS WORRIES

[Tune: THE WEARING OF THE GREEN]
01 Now, my wife went mad on the wireless, and it really was a sin.
02 The way she nagged me made me feel I should be listening in.
03 I used to be a happy sort of fellow, it is true,
04 Until the day I bought a pole to fix the aerial to.

[Tune: ?]
05 It was some pole! You really couldn't doubt it:
06 Fifty feet long with lots of weight about it.
07 The man remarked, "We'll send it free."
08 I said, "Don't bother, for you see,
09 I've brought a handcart here with me
10 To wheel it home."

[Tune: THE GIRL I LEFT BEHIND ME]
11 So off I went. Four p'licemen blinked, but they never seemed to mind me.
12 And as I went, I left a dray in an accident behind me.
13 I turned a corner rather sharp. I should have been more wary.
14 I caught a fat old lady, plonk! right in her little Mary.
15 Her husband he was most annoyed and cried with many a splutter:
16 "You are a goat." I said, "I know. That's why I had to butt her."
17 I must admit I lost my head. I had no sense left in it.
18 I waved the pole to left, to right, and in another minute,

[Tune: ?]
19 I put it through the window.
20 I put it through a window.
21 I put it through a window, then started running home.

[Tune: HOME SWEET HOME]
22 Home, home, sweet, sweet home!
23 When you've got to pull on the handcart, there's no place like home.

[Tune: ?]
24 Then I stuck up that pole with a ...
25 That it shouldn't fall down, for my fear was intense,
26 But when I got it finished, the wife shouted, "John,
27 You've forgotten to fasten the aerial on."

[Tune: YANKEE DOODLE]
28 My thoughts were wicked, I admit, but what I said was badder.
29 To a builder's yard close by I went to fetch a ladder.
30 I found that it was far too short. The thought of murder filled me.
31 I swore that I would climb that pole yet, even if it killed me.

[Tune: THE GRAND OLD DUKE OF YORK]
32 But as I scrambled up, up, up, the ladder tumbled down.
33 As I was only halfway up, I was neither up nor down.

[Tune: THE VICAR OF BRAY]
34 "Be careful, dear!" the wife cried out, in accents most disjointed.
35 "That pole is full of rusty nails and splinters sharply pointed."
36 I heeded not her warning, for to get down I was yearning,
37 But as I slid, a splinter ran into my seat of learning.

[Tune: AULD LANG SYNE]
38 The ... may listen in. My wireless craze has gone.
39 That pole is now used by the wife to hang the washing on.

[Tune: RULE BRITANNIA]
40 Rule, Britannia! Britannia rules the waves.
41 I shall never, never rule the wireless waves.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Music Hall songs
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 27 Jul 10 - 01:33 PM

Wow! Thanks Jim! I see if I can get the missing words and tunes from Arthur.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Music Hall songs
From: Snuffy
Date: 28 Jul 10 - 02:49 AM

The tune for 19-21 is So Early in the Morning and 24-28 is Bonny Dundee .

Line 24 sounds to me like Then I stuck up that pole with a bag of cement

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Music Hall songs
From: kendall
Date: 28 Jul 10 - 04:01 AM

My Granny had a 78 of After the ball by Vernon Dalhart, now I have it.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Music Hall songs
From: GUEST,hapenny
Date: 06 Mar 11 - 09:01 AM

My uncle remembers a song - Don't stick it out like that.......slap my thighs I've never seen one so fat..... Anyone have the lyrics to this one?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Music Hall songs
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 13 Mar 11 - 12:01 PM

Oxford University and the British Library have the sheet music, described thus:

DON'T STICK IT OUT LIKE THAT
Words and music by Fred Murray and Fred W. Leigh; sung by Fred Earle.
Song; melody and words only, staff and solfa notation.
London : Francis, Day & Hunter, ©1901.
First line: Uncle Jonah's got a funny nose.
First line of chorus: Don't stick it out like that.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Music Hall songs
From: Artful Codger
Date: 15 Mar 11 - 08:28 PM

Searching at Google Books I found this blurb, quoted from Stars Who Made the Halls, by Sidney Theodore Felstead:

Where did you get that boko, Uncle,
Is it your nose, or a big carbuncle,
Hide it under your handkerchief, or cover it with your hat,
The driver will take it for a danger signal,
Don't stick it out like that.

Unlike what you may have been thinking (for shame!), boko was (is?) apparently a slang word for nose, a propos of which:

"Barney Boko was a fictional character in an early comic strip in The Dandy. It was about a tramp whose incredibly long nose could be used for anything, from a christmas tree to a bridge."