One touch of nature makes the whole world kin

AKAOne touch of nature
First Published1897

Writer/composerFelix McGlennonRoudRN12909

Music Hall PerformersMarie Loftus
Folk performancesCollected from the singing of:
Norris, Jack; England: Sussex; 1960
Hart, Bob; England: Suffolk; 1969
'Tis night, the scene's a blood-stained battle field,
A truce 'till morning seek the deadly foes;
The rival armies fought, but none would yield,
The weary soldiers crave a brief repose;
Ah, many a gallant heart in death is stilled,
And many a comrade mourns a comrade dear;
With dreams of glory ev'ry soldier's thrilled,
Tho' death is nigh, no thought have they of fear.

Crouching 'round the camp fires, in the ruddy glow,
While the watchful sentries pace there to and fro;
Waiting for the morning, then to face the foe,
Eager all, a heroes' name to win;
"We've been good old chums. Jack, naught could part us two,
If my time has come, Jack, and if spared are you,
Tell the little girl I love, I was ever true,"
One touch of nature makes the whole world kin.

'Tis Christmas Eve, the joyous bells ring out,
They seem to say, "Good will and peace to all;"
The village sleeps, nor heeds the royster's shout,.
And silence reigns there in the rich man's hall;
But see! a burglar plies his lawless trade,
With muffled feet and eager, watchful eyes,
On plunder bent, of capture not afraid,
He grimly whispers, "He who'd cross me, dies."

Creeping there so stealthy in the silent gloom,
Searching for his plunder all around the room,
"I'll stop not at murder, though death be my doom,"
Desperate is his heart and steeped in sin;
Hark: a tiny voice there. "Take me on your knee!
Are you Santa Claus? please, no toys can I see!"
"Goodnight, little darling one, kiss me, pray for me!"
One touch of nature makes the whole world kin.

Before the Judge defiantly she stands,
Poor outcast drifting on the sea of life;
The drink fiend holds her as in iron bands,
Too helpless she to struggle in the strife;
But slowly, surely drifting, sinking down,
And yet she once was some poor mother's pride;
Now reckless there nor heeds the Judge's frown,
Poor Magdalen, far better she had died.

I was once so pure, sir, innocent and young,
Till the tempter came, sir, with his lying tongue,
What cared he though my heart was with anguish wrung,
Though I drifted in the path of sin;
In the village church I used to kneel in prayer,
Would you know the name of him who laid the snare?
You were my betrayer, sir, judge me, if you dare,
One touch of nature makes the whole world kin.

Another late 19th-century hit in the Halls that was remembered by traditional singers in south-east England in the late 20th century. You can hear Bob Hart singing it at the Vaughan Williams Memorial Library website

The song was written and composed by the prolific Felix McGlennon  and originally a hit in the British music halls for Marie Loftus although in the United States it was associated with the singing of Helene Maura.

The title is a quote from Shakespeare’s Troilus and Cressida – often thought of as a call to recognise our common humanity, in its original context it seems to have meant something different…

Marie Loftus was a typical serio-comic performer in that she interspersed comic songs with more serious fare. This review makes it clear that this particular song was not sung for comedic effect (as a “burlesque”):

 It was not., however, as a burlesque artist only that Marie shone on this occasion. She gave the audience a specimen of her descriptive powers, and earned an ovation when she warbled a song which reminded us that “one touch of nature makes the whole world kin.” Miss Loftus, who looked her best, was at her best, and the audience had a difficulty in parting with her. 

Nov. 22, 1897; The Licensed Victuallers’ Mirror 

Sources:

Last Updated on January 23, 2022 by John Baxter | Published: January 23, 2022

image_print