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Origins: mystery music hall song

12 Jan 21 - 02:21 PM (#4087645)
Subject: Origins: mystery music hall song
From: GUEST,Len Kennington

Anyone recognise this? Not in the British Library or Google - any ideas about title or composer would be much appreciated -

Now I don't like to talk of the deeds that I've done,
But scores will admit that I'm good,
Next door, there's a lady, whose husband's at sea,
A charming young lady named Wood
Now seldom she speaks of her dear darling boy,
And while he's at sea, can you guess where is me?

Who cheers her up, while her husband's away?
Why it's Me, Me, Me
Who shows her round all the shops everyday?
Me, Me, Me
Who Sweeps the kitchen, the carpet, the mat?
Who feeds the bird and looks after the cat?
Who's ruddy useful for this and for that?
Why it's Me, Me, Me!


12 Jan 21 - 02:35 PM (#4087646)
Subject: RE: Origins: mystery music hall song
From: Steve Gardham

'Me, Me, Me' was in George Formby's dad's repertoire, also called George, 1877-1921, but that's all I have on it. however if you get the mods to change the title here to 'Me, Me, me' you might have more luck.


12 Jan 21 - 03:09 PM (#4087647)
Subject: RE: Origins: mystery music hall song
From: Jos

This may be irrelevant, but my initial impression is that the rhythm is that of "You are old, Father William", from "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland", a poem which itself is a parody of "The old man's comforts and how he gained them" by Robert Southey. So could it be a parody?


12 Jan 21 - 03:42 PM (#4087652)
Subject: RE: Origins: mystery music hall song
From: Mick Pearce (MCP)

George Formby Sr. Zonophone 1892: Me, Me, Me (copy available for £15 in 2015 apparently).


Apparently a song by this name was in the repertoire of Walter Pardon and George Fradley and this Mustrad article wondered if it was the George Formby Sr. song: The Other Songs


Mick


12 Jan 21 - 07:32 PM (#4087678)
Subject: RE: Origins: mystery music hall song
From: GUEST,#

http://www.45worlds.com/78rpm/record/1892uk


13 Jan 21 - 04:57 AM (#4087708)
Subject: RE: Origins: mystery music hall song
From: GUEST,Mike Yates

Looking at the text given above, I can say that these two verses were not sung by George Fradley. Also, the lines don't scan like George's song - 'For Me, For Me'. I can only suggest that this is a different song from the one that George sang.


13 Jan 21 - 05:03 AM (#4087709)
Subject: RE: Origins: mystery music hall song
From: GUEST,Mike Yates

I now find that 'For Me, For Me' was sung on the stage by Fred Earle. It may well be that 'Me, Me, Me' as sung by George Formby Sn. was the song given above.


13 Jan 21 - 07:04 AM (#4087722)
Subject: RE: Origins: mystery music hall song
From: GUEST,Kenny B (inactive)

I have found this site useful for Music hall type songs

Monologues and Music Hall songs


13 Jan 21 - 08:54 AM (#4087737)
Subject: RE: Origins: mystery music hall song
From: Long Firm Freddie

It could be Me! sung by Mark Merry and written by him and Alec Kendal.

Here's a link to a copy for sale.

Me!

If you click on the picture you can see the chorus printed out which seems to match the rhythm of the verses given by the OP.

LFF


13 Jan 21 - 09:08 AM (#4087739)
Subject: RE: Origins: mystery music hall song
From: Steve Gardham

The 'Me' song Kilgarriff dates as 1907. I would presume that Formby and Merry were either singing the same song or that one was based on the other.


13 Jan 21 - 11:18 AM (#4087765)
Subject: RE: Origins: mystery music hall song
From: Long Firm Freddie

It looks as though Me! was a follow up song - here's a link to a copy for sale of No, No, No by Mark Merry dated 1906, again with the chorus printed on the front:

No, No, No

LFF