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Lyr Req: The End of My Old Cigar (Harry Champion)

29 Jan 02 - 12:38 PM (#637996)
Subject: End of my Old Cigar
From: GUEST,ian the chutneymeister

Has any one out there got a copy of lyrics to a song entitled "the end of my old cigar" (aka the stub of my old cigar) Several threads refer to it. A parody of the song (I'm Monica Lewinsky!!) exists in the forum, But what about the original? Any one helping me with the acquisition of these lyrics will be entitled to a free jar of my home made chutney!!!! Tim Laycock used to sing it. John Osborne wrote a play with the same title but what are the l

29 Jan 02 - 01:27 PM (#638030)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: End of my Old Cigar
From: McGrath of Harlow

Aah, the Clinton song, lying in wait for him for him all those years. All I can remember is:

The end of me old cigar, ta-ra-ta-ra-ta-rar,
As I walk down Piccadilly, I'm a regular la-di-dah,
I may not be good looking, but they reckon that I'm a star,
For I tickle the ladies' fancy with the end of me old cigar.

Cosmotheka did a great version.

29 Jan 02 - 03:20 PM (#638094)
Subject: Lyr/Chords Add: END OF ME OLD CIGAR
From: Kenny B (inactive)

Is this what you're looking for. BTW 'Old?' Cinton Ford? is still alive and still performing at gigs with the Merseysippi jazzband, he now lives in the Isle of Man. I have some of his recordings on CD :>} TTFN Kenny B

END of ME OLD CIGAR
Asb Roy Hudd W/m Harry Champion 

D                                               G
  One night after closing time the landlord of the "Star",
  A7                            D
  Presented me with a nine-penny cigar,
                                                     G
  I smoked it until Easter time like one of the la-di-dah,
         A7                                                               D 
  Now everybody knows me by the end of me old cigar
  
  Chorus
  A7  D                                    G
  The end of me old cigar, Tra-la, tra-la, tra-la,
         A7                                                               D
  Now everybody knows me by the end of me old cigar,
One morning after breakfast, into my surgery,
Came a girl with a vaccination plea,
"Vaccinate me doctor, but please don't leave a scar",
So I vaccinated Gertie, With the end of me old cigar, ..... Chorus

One afternoon 'round tea time, at a grand n party grand,
My wife and me were a-shakin' of every hand,
She was carrying on a bit, going rather far,
But I was doing a trade of me own, With the end of me old cigar, ..... Chorus

One evening after supper whilst strolling in the park,
I came upon a lady, it was getting rather dark,
Says she "Can you direct me , I've wandered rather far"
So I takes a puff and shows her the way, with the end of me old cigar, ..... Chorus


HTML ‘preformat’ commands added (to make the chords line up with the lyrics). --JoeClone, 31-Jan-02.

29 Jan 02 - 03:24 PM (#638095)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: End of my Old Cigar
From: MMario

so - anyone have the dots? midi? scribbled sheet of paper with tadpoles on it?

29 Jan 02 - 03:46 PM (#638113)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: End of my Old Cigar
From: GUEST

I may be wrong, but did a very young Martin Carthy do this?

29 Jan 02 - 06:17 PM (#638221)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: End of my Old Cigar
From: Jerry Rasmussen

I have this song, along with The Hole In The Elephant's Bottom and Boiled Beef and Carrots by the Buskers... good to see the lyrics posted.
Jerry

29 Jan 02 - 08:05 PM (#638312)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: End of my Old Cigar
From: Herga Kitty

Clinton Ford - didn't he use to sing Fanlight Fanny the Frowsy Night Club Queen? Does he still?

29 Jan 02 - 08:20 PM (#638325)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: End of my Old Cigar
From: Snuffy

Fanlight Fanny

29 Jan 02 - 09:10 PM (#638366)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: End of my Old Cigar
From: Kenny B (inactive)

Clinton Ford appeared with the Merseysippi Jazz Band at the Scarborough Jazz Festival in Nov 2001.
He has sung regularly with them since he left Butlins where he was a Redcoat, many many years ago.
There are a couple of his original numbers on the Heroes of British Jazz 4 CD Set
I have copies of these titles shown below that i got from a tape of an old LP belonging to the PR man/Banjo player of the MJB - the sound quality is still good and the performances are Clinton Ford at his best.
Title:-Clinton the Clown w/Clinton Ford & George Chisholm
1 My Baby's Wild about my Old Trombone
2 In the Old Bazaar In Cairo
3 Good Ship Nancy Lee
4 Pig Got Up and Slowly Walked Away
5 The Night I Appeared as McBeth
6 Volga Olga
7 In the Merry Month of May
8 Fan Dance Fanny
9 The Bustle My Grandmother Wore
10 When its Night Time in Italy
12 Sing us another one Do
13 Burlington Bertie

30 Jan 02 - 07:38 AM (#638576)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: End of my Old Cigar
From: Ringer

Yes, Guest, a young Martin Carthy did do this. I have an LP called Hootenanny in London with him singing it. It also boasts the late Harry H Corbett (young Steptoe) singing Blow the Man Down.

I think that LP is the oldest in my collection.

04 Feb 02 - 09:09 AM (#641925)
Subject: Lyr Add: THE END OF MY OLD CIGAR
From: Ringer

Hmmm... funny how the old memory lets you down, isn't it? May I make two corrections to the previous post?

(1) Harry Corbett singing Blow the Man Down is on the first Topic Sampler, of course, not on Hootennany in London.

(2) The End of My Old Cigar on HiL is, in fact, a duet by Martin Carthy & Redd Sullivan.

Apologies to all record-keepers. Here are the Carthy/Sullivan words:

Twenty years ago the landlord of The Star
Said "Here you are, young fellow-me-lad, here's a ninepenny cigar.
I smoked it up to Easter, and then my horrible wife
Said, "Put the nasty thing away. You'll need it the rest of your life."
The end of my old cigar, tra-la, tra-la, tra-la.
I walk down Piccadilly, I'm a regular lah-di-dah.
I may not be good looking, nor look like a movie-star,
But I tickle the ladies' fancy with the end of my old cigar.

Ten years ago, while in my surgery,
In comes a young woman, and this she says to me:
"Oh, Doctor, vaccinate me in a place that will not show."
"I'll vaccinate you, Gertie, what-ho, what-ho, what-ho!"
With the end of my old cigar, tra-la, tra-la, tra-la,
I vaccinated Gertie. Well, you should have seen the scar!"
Now whenever she gets out of a bus or into a motor-car
She says, [falsetto] "Look what the Doctor did to me with the end of his old cigar!"[/falsetto]

Five years ago, while serving overseas,
I saw the German enemy and my blood began to freeze.
The Sergeant said, "Here's tin-hat, my lad. Now put it upon your head."
I said, "If it's all the same to you, I'll put it down here instead!"
Oh, the end of my old cigar, tra-la, tra-la, tra-la,
I saved my manly virtue and the end of my old cigar.

04 Feb 02 - 02:49 PM (#642224)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: End of my Old Cigar
From: RolyH

Also on "Hootenanny in London",Carthy sings the deep and meaningfull "Your baby 'as gorn dahn the plug 'ole" ( I think it is one of Childs)

04 Feb 02 - 07:03 PM (#642456)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: End of my Old Cigar
From: McGrath of Harlow

I think Martin Carthy has been known to sing it a lot more recently than that.

12 Feb 02 - 03:11 AM (#647889)
Subject: Lyr Add: THE END OF MY OLD CIGAR
From: GUEST,Songbird

COUPLE OF MORE ORIGINAL VERSES.

Originally sung by Harry Champion of Music Hall fame.

The other Easter Monday we all toddled to the zoo,
I smoked away on my cigar and chocked a kangaroo.
And there we saw an animal that caused a lot of chaff
It was called the "Umbaphozalum" so just to have a laugh
With the end of me old cigar, hoorah, hoorah, hoorah, hoorah
I tickled it beneath the chin and then the wife's mamma
Cried out "It has not got a tail, it does look singular"
So I borrowed a pin and I stuck on the end of me old cigar

I went to good old Southend and as night began to draw.
I thought I'd take a walk down behind the cockle stall.
And there I found a mermaid that's been washed up on the shore
She'd nothing on but seaweed so I took another draw
At the end of me old cigar, hoorah, hoorah, hoorah, hoorah
She murmured to me gently, "Sir you'll think this most bizarre
But I think that you're the one for me." I murmured to her "Taa".
And I smoked her little fish tail with the end of me old cigar.

Last night I had a dream in which I saw a house on fire.
I thought I'd show my courage that the ladies so admire.
I started up the ladder and the flames began to bite.
And just to show how cool I was I stopped to get a light
For the end of me old cigar, hoorah, hoorah, hoorah, hoorah
Just then the missus startled saying "Wake up won't you Pa!"
"I told you not to smoke in bed, you fool and there you are"
"Now you've burned a hold in me nightdress with the end of your old cigar."

02 Nov 04 - 07:41 AM (#1314008)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: olga from the volga
From: GUEST,wudlund@hotmail.com

who can help with the lyrics ?

02 Nov 04 - 10:04 AM (#1314102)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: End of my Old Cigar
From: Jim McLean

I was at the recording of 'Hootenanny in London' and remember it well. 1963!!

17 Sep 06 - 01:43 AM (#1836440)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: End of My Old Cigar
From: GUEST

Clearly this original message was posted about five years ago, but hey, chutney tastes better if it is allowed to mature.
END OF ME OLD CIGAR is a classic - check Chas and Dave do it, totally brilliant. The lyrics are as follows:

Twenty Christmas eves ago, the landlord of The Star
Said, "Here's a Christmas box for you. Well, have a nice cigar."
I smoked it up to Easter, then me dear departed wife
Said "Why not throw the end away?" I said, "Not on your life.
It's the end of me old cigar, hurrah, hurrah, hurrah!"
I walk down Piccadilly and they think that I'm the Shah.
It ain't because I'm handsome, or I'm a lah-di-dah.
I tickled the ladies' fancy with the end of my old cigar.

Then there's a load of other equally classic verses but my bird is hassling me to give it a rest so that's your lot.

02 Nov 07 - 08:09 AM (#2184900)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: End of My Old Cigar
From: GUEST,:D

Twenty Christmas eves ago, the landlord of The Star
Said here's a Christmas box for you, look here a nice cigar
I smokes it up till Easter till me dear devoted wife
Said why don't you throw the end away? I said, not on your life

It's the end of me old cigar, hurrah, hurrah, hurrah!
I walked up Piccadilly and they think that I'm the Shah
It ain't because I'm handsome, or I'm a la-di-dah
But I tickled the ladies' fancy with the end of my old cigar

I used to be a sailor once a sailing on the sea
One day the vessel struck a rock just off the Zuiderzee
The captain says we're going down I says you're up the pole
And when they come to find me I was bunging up the hole

With the end of me old cigar, hurrah, hurrah, hurrah!
I asked the captain for a light and he said here you are
Someone shouted fire, but cabin boy said bah
It's only him a-puffin' away at the end of his old cigar

19 Nov 07 - 10:01 PM (#2197984)
Subject: Holiday Plans - I need Help!
From: GUEST,sarahwhite

Hi   

I'm thinking of a holiday next year and wanted to take my whole family with me, parents and children!

I have ruled out a holiday abroad because I think it would be a total nightmare to organise. I was thinking of a summer holiday in a holiday park but I have heard very bad reviews about these types of places, in terms of hygiene standards and disabled facilities, such as at Butlins and Haven.

Can anyone recommend a caravan park that they have been to in the UK because I'd rather go to one that has a good review.

thanks a lot for your help in advance

07 Jul 08 - 04:15 PM (#2383241)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: End of My Old Cigar
From: GUEST,Bill Curnow

Now twenty Christmases ago, the landlord of the Star
Said "Here's your Christmas box my lad, a ninepenny cigar"
Oh the end of my old cigar, hurrah, hurrah, hurrah
I tickled my lady's fancy with the end of my old cigar.

13 Dec 08 - 02:37 PM (#2514438)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: End of My Old Cigar
From: GUEST,chas ambler

He might have but if he did he got it from Redd Sullivan

14 Dec 08 - 05:38 PM (#2515268)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: End of My Old Cigar
From: Jim Dixon

WorldCat describes it thus:

THE END OF MY OLD CIGAR
by R P Weston; Worton David; Harry Champion
Type: Musical score : Songs; English
Publisher: London : Francis, Day & Hunter, ©1914.

24 Jan 09 - 01:31 PM (#2547967)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: End of My Old Cigar
From: GUEST,Allan Briscoe

So fine to connect with this forum,
me mum and dad used to be part of the Variety shows that were so popular in England in the 30's, 40's and 50's, so I grew up learning and listening to a lot of the old music hall styles. Great stuff. I'm more mature now of course (71) and I now reside in Canada, the west coast (BC) but I still act out the old stuff and people still love it. I think it's all about the famouse italian saying,
"Inyuendo" eh?
Allen

25 Feb 11 - 06:15 PM (#3102843)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: End of My Old Cigar
From: Jim Dixon

I couldn't find a complete recording of this song online. The best I could find was a medley that contained an abbreviated form of it. You can hear the medley at YouTube. This is the third song in the medley, after I'M HENERY THE EIGHTH I AM and COVER IT OVER QUICK, JEMIMA:


THE END OF MY OLD CIGAR
As sung by Harry Champion

VERSE 1: Twenty Christmases ago, the landlord at the Star
Said, "Here's a Christmas box for you, a nine-penny cigar."
I smoked it up till Easter then my dear devoted wife
Said, "Why don't you throw the end away?" Said I, "Not on your life!"

CHORUS 1: With the end of me old cigar, hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah!
I stroll up Piccadilly and they fancy I'm the Shah.
It isn't because I'm handsome or that I'm a la-di-dah.
I tickle the three-percenters(?) with the end of my old cigar.

VERSE 2: The other Whitsun Monday we all toddled to the zoo.
I puffed away at my cigar and I choked a kangaroo.
The monkey started coughing and the tiger had to sneeze,
But when the elephant said he ... if you please.

CHORUS 2: With the end of me old cigar, hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah!
I tickled up the elephants that came from Zanzibar.
"Oh, what a funny trunk(?) he's got," said my wife's dear mama.
"That isn't the elephant's trunk(?)," said I. "It's the end of my old cigar."


Notes:

I have no idea what a "three-percenter" was (possibly spelled "three per center" since "per cent" was usually spelled as two words in those days) and I haven't found any convincingly relevant information. Is it possible I'm mishearing it?

I inserted "trunk" into chorus 2 because that's what he seems to mean but I'm fairly sure that is not the word he sings. Any ideas what he really sings?

Oh, and I'm not interested, at this point, in what other people sing; I want to know what Harry Champion sang. I think his was the original recording. I want to hear from people who have actually listened to the Harry Champion recording, so they can tell me what they hear.

05 Oct 11 - 11:53 AM (#3234286)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The End of My Old Cigar (Harry Champion)
From: GUEST

Three per center is possibly rhyming slang for bender, which is gay.

Just a guess.

17 Dec 12 - 08:59 AM (#3453277)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The End of My Old Cigar (Harry Champion)
From: GUEST,Andy

For what it's worth, this is what I believe Harry Champion actually sang.......

THE END OF MY OLD CIGAR

Twenty Christmases ago, the landlord at the Star
Said, "Here's a Christmas box for you, a nine-penny cigar"
I smoked it up to Easter, then me dear devoted wife
Said "Why not throw the end away?" I said, "I - Not on your life.

With the end of me old cigar, hurrah, hurrah, hurrah!"
I walk down Piccadilly and they fancy I'm the Shah.
It isn't because I'm handsome, or I'm a lah-di-dah.
I tickled the peoples' fancy with the end of my old cigar.

The other Whitsun Monday we all toddled to the zoo,
I puffed away on my cigar and choked a kangaroo.
The monkey started coughing and the tiger had a sneeze
but when the elephant said "here stop that smoking, if you please"

With the end of me old cigar, hoorah, hoorah, hoorah, hoorah
I tickled up the elephant that came from Zanzibar
"And what a funny tail he's" got says my wife to her ma
"That isn't the elephant's tail" I says, "it's the end of me old cigar"

With the end of me old cigar, cigar, cigar, cigar, cigar,
I tickled up the elephant that came from Zanzibar
"And what a funny tail he's" got says my wife to her ma
"That isn't the elephant's tail" I says, "it's the end of me old cigar"

27 Jun 15 - 05:35 AM (#3719253)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The End of My Old Cigar (Harry Champion)
From: GUEST,Kiwi

Chas & Dave sing this on their jamboree cd. If you do a part lyric search it will bring up all lyrics.