Can't sing for Toffee

Subject: RE: Can't sing for Toffee
From: GUEST,banjoman
Date: 21 Jun 07 - 07:42 AM

Did a bit of research (spoke to a couple of old mates from Liverpool) & the consensus is that "can't sing for tofee" comes from Liverpool where there was a famous factory making Everton Tofee - its the same reason Everton Football Club are known as the Tofees - and the practice of rewarding children who sang the hymns in Sunday School well, with a tofee. Those who didn't get one "Couldn't sing for tofee"
Its probably got some element of truth about it but who knows - its reminds me of the factory in Liverpool who were reputed to Knit Kettles from steel wool

Subject: RE: Can't sing for Toffee
From: MMario
Date: 21 Jun 07 - 08:49 AM

I had assumed it was rhying slang from

Can't xxxxx for beans

becoming for 'coffee beans'

becomign 'coffee'

ending 'toffee'

Subject: RE: Can't sing for Toffee
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 21 Jun 07 - 03:19 PM

That sounds quite plausible - but in that case the question becomes, why "beans"?

Subject: RE: Can't sing for Toffee
From: MMario
Date: 21 Jun 07 - 03:32 PM

because they are cheap and worthless and traditionally the useless item that valuuable items are traded for?

as in Jack and the Beanstalk?

Subject: RE: Can't sing for Toffee
From: TRUBRIT
Date: 21 Jun 07 - 08:13 PM

MMario -- interesting but I really like the explanation from banjoman.........that sounds so possible.......

Subject: RE: Can't sing for Toffee
From: Gurney
Date: 21 Jun 07 - 08:54 PM

"Swans sing before they die: 'twere no bad thing
that certain persons die before they sing!"

"What do you think of a girl that CAN sing, and won't?"
"I think that I prefer her to a girl who can't sing and will!"

"Extraordinary how potent cheap music is!"

I didn't put these on the 'Quotes' thread because I couldn't be bothered to make sure who's they were. Coleridge, Chesterton and Coward, I think. Not sure though.

Subject: RE: Can't sing for Toffee
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 21 Jun 07 - 09:10 PM

First one is Coleridge all right, and the third one is Noel Coward, from Private Lives. The second I'm inclined to think isn't Chesterton - after all he once wrote "If a thing is worth doing it's worth doing badly".