Lyr Req: A Power of Good

06 Dec 02 - 07:54 PM (#842706)
Subject: Lyr Req: I don't know who you are,sir
From: GUEST,Chris,Stafford

In the distant past,I recall an old (Music Hall?) song..."I don't know who you are, sir or where you're from, but you've done me a power of good!"...anyone know of this?..can you suppky a lyric.
Cheers.

---

07 Dec 02 - 06:13 AM (#842927)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I don't know who you are,sir
From: Dave Bryant

No but I know a man who can. PM "Auntie Wend" and ask her to get the words from Pete Chopping - it might cost you a pint - knowing Pete, anymore than a pint would be unproductive as he'd forget them again !

---

07 Dec 02 - 02:08 PM (#843129)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I don't know who you are,sir
From: Dave Bryant

There's a bit that goes:

It's a fine old kettle of fish sir, a fine old kettle of fish.
Mum's gone off in a big black hearse, dad's in bed with the district nurse.....

---

07 Dec 02 - 04:35 PM (#843190)
Subject: Lyr Add: A POWER OF GOOD
From: Dead Horse

A POWER OF GOOD

I don't know who you are, sir, or where you're from,
But you've done me a power of good.
On the road to the (location), my knees gave way
And it done me a power of harm.
Now just to help me up again and on my way I recited the 93rd psalm (which goes)

CHORUS: I don't know who you are, sir, or where you're from,
But you've done me a power of good.
I don't know who you are sir, or where you're from,
But you've done me a power of good.

What happened to the crispy bacon we had before the war?
Grandma's got distemper. She's fallen through the floor.
Don't use a knife and fork, sir, if you don't know what they're for,
And don't grow rhubarb in your boots; it is against the law.

That's a nasty cough you've got, sir. That's a nasty cough you've got.
We'll have to put you in an iron bed, cos if we don't, you'll soon be dead.
Then we'll have to buy some lilies, and that could cost a lot,
So get some Vick and rub it in quick, that's a nasty cough you've got.

It's a right old kettle of fish, sir. It's a right old kettle of fish.
Ma's gone off in a big black hearse. Pa's in bed with the district nurse.
There's a nasty smell on the landing. Cor blimey, how I wish
It's a right old kettle, it's a right old kettle, it's a right old kettle of fish.

It was early last September, as near as I remember,
When I was walking home in drunken pride.
No one was I disturbing, as I sat down at the kerbing
And a little pig came down and sat beside.
We sang, "Never mind the weather, just as long as we're together"
Till a lady passing by was heard to say,
"You can tell a man who boozes by the company he chooses,"
And the pig got up and slowly walked away. (Cor blimey!)

Outside the church one Sunday morn, the vicar said for fun,
"I bet I've had more women than you," and the curate said, "You're on.
We'll sit by the church as the church comes out and this shall be the sign:
I'll ring-a-ding-ding for the girls I've had. (I'll ring-a-ding-dong for mine.)
Well, ring-a-ding-ding. (Ring-a-ding-dong.)
There were more ring-a-ding-dings than ring-a-ding-dongs,
Till a pretty little miss came by and the curate went ding-dong.
"Oh, I say," said the vicar. "There's a mistake there.
That's my wife, I do declare."
"I don't give a bugger, sir. I've been there." Ring-a-ding-dong, ding-dong!

3 or 4 of us regularly sing this crowd pleaser in the pubs we visit on morris outings.

---

12 Dec 02 - 10:28 AM (#845902)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I don't know who you are,sir
From: Jim Dixon

What you've got there is probably a blending of 2, maybe 3 old songs. Part of it comes from "The Pig and the Inebriate", of which we have four versions in the DT: PIG AND THE INEBRIATE, PIG AND THE INEBRIATE 2 (long version), PIG AND THE INEBRIATE 3, and (which seems to be the original) THE FAMOUS PIG SONG.

(I'm sure there are discussion threads about this song, but with the Forum search function not working, I haven't bothered to try to find them.)

This leads me to suspect there is an older version of "Power of Good" too.

---

12 Dec 02 - 11:10 AM (#845932)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I don't know who you are,sir
From: Dave Bryant

Thanks everyone - It was the first four verses of the original song I was seeking, but I have heard it with the other two bits appended - it might have been "The Yetties" who put them together.

BTW the 92nd psalm goes seems the most appropriate because it contains:

For you have made me glad by your acts, O Lord;
and I shout for joy because of the works of your hands.

Whereas the 93rd starts

The Lord is king; he has put on splendid apparel;
the Lord has put on his apparel and girded himself with strength.

and doesn't seem to contain any lines which would be relevant.

---

12 Dec 02 - 01:58 PM (#846081)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I don't know who you are,sir
From: breezy

i got it from catford days, thanks for reminding of the bits I forgot.

---

12 Dec 02 - 03:24 PM (#846139)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I don't know who you are,sir
From: Dead Horse

No Dave, the 93rd psalm goes *I don't know who you are, sir, or where you're from.....*
You hobviuosly haint been listenin' :-}

---

12 Dec 02 - 07:15 PM (#846301)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I don't know who you are,sir
From: Jim Dixon

A couple of websites say that "I don't know who you are, sir, but you've done me such a power of good" – or some variant – was a catch phrase popularized by comedian Spike Milligan on the Goon Show, c1959. Specifically, it was a line spoken by the character Major Bloodnok (or Bloodknock). This page contains a transcription of one episode, titled "The Call of the West" which contains the line "Ohh, that's done me a power of good, folks!"

Being an American, I don't know much about the Goon Show. Can anyone confirm this? So which came first, the catch phrase or the song?

---

12 Dec 02 - 07:32 PM (#846319)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I don't know who you are,sir
From: breezy

the Goons
92nd ,it has the correct no of syllables to sing
Bloodknock
Being an American you're excused.But dont be long, just be.
PEL faxyourmp NOW

---