Worton David (1872-1940, first name: Worton, second name: David) was a writer who churned out hundreds of songs, working with a variety of composers. As a young man he worked in a solicitors office, but his skill at writing stories and drawing cartoons saw him employed by the Leeds Mercury, a position which required him to regularly attend the Leeds Empire.
This was the beginning of his relationship with the Halls. His songwriting and financial acumen were such that he eventually set up his own publishing company.
I have been able to find evidence of 200 or so published songs written or co-written by David (the list is available for download below). His best remembered songs are probably:
- Hello! Hello! Who’s your lady friend? (published 1913, sung by Harry Fragson)
- Hold your hand out naughty boy (published 1913, sung by Florrie Forde)
Out of the hundreds of songs he wrote, the following are the ones which seem to have had an impact on traditional singing: as assessed through entries in the VWML:
- Are we downhearted-No! (11234)
- At a minute to seven, last night (30373 )
- End of me old cigar, The (17697)
- Far, far away (21978)
- Four-and-nine (8106)
- I can’t forget the days (24513)
- I do like a s’nice s’mince s’pie (29712)
- I parted my hair in the middle (27917)
- I’m going to sing a song (21971)
- It won’t last very very long (10710)
- Little by little and bit by bit (10674)
- The Manx Cat (27911)
- My half was underneath (10677)
- Rest of the day’s your own, The (1485)
- That old fashioned mother of mine (23549)
- Other department please, The (16736)
- We really had a most delightful evening
Last Updated on July 11, 2022 by John Baxter | Published: May 8, 2020
