Little bit of what you fancy does you good (A)

AKA
LyricsFred LeighMusic George ArthursRoudV21307
Music Hall performersMarie Lloyd 1910s, 1920s
Folk performances???
I never was a one to go and stint myself
If I like a thing, I like it, that's enough
But there's lots of people say that if you like a thing a lot
It'll grow on you and all that sort of stuff
Now I like my drop of stout as well as anyone
But a drop of stout‘s supposed to make you fat
And there's many a lar-di-dar-di madam doesn't dare to touch it
“Cos she mustn't spoil her figure silly cat.

I always hold in having it if you fancy it
If you fancy it, that's understood
And suppose it makes you fat?
I don't worry over that
A little of what you fancy does you good.

Now, once a year I like a little holiday
And we've always had one, my old man and me
But the last time that we had one he brings up a new idea
As we watched the ladies bathing in the sea
He said what a man requires is a change of everything
So he ought to take his holidays alone
Right away from everyday affairs, so I said “Very likely
Well if you prefer a fortnight on your own.

I always hold with havin' it if you fancy it, 
If you fancy it, that's understood! 
But if that's your bloomin' game, 
I intend to do the same, 
'Cause a little o' what you fancy does you good!

I had to catch a certain train the other day
And I very nearly lost it, I declare
But the guard said, “Jump in Missus” Then he shoved me in a first
And I found a nice young couple sitting there
I could see that honeymoon was stamped all over ‘em
I felt sorry for the lady and the chap
So I said to them “Excuse me, but if you want to have a cuddle
Have a cuddle ‘cos I'm going to have a nap.

And I always hold with havin' it if you fancy it, 
If you fancy it, that's understood! 
And while you young couple spoon, 
I'll dream of my 'oneymoon,
'Cause a little o' what you fancy does you good! 

And I always hold with havin' it if you fancy it,
Get on with it, don't waste no time! 
And while you young couple spoon, 
I'll be at my 'oneymoon, 
'Cause a little o' what you fancy does you good!

Marie Lloyd (1870 to 1922), billed as “Queen of Comedy”, was the daughter of an artificial flower maker, and had several menial jobs before making her debut in the Halls in 1885. She was almost immediately was taken on by one of the most successful agents of the day, George Ware . Despite this, success was not overnight, and her first big hit was in 1890, Wink the Other Eye.

She was hugely successful throughout the English-speaking world and toured successfully in the UK, America and South Africa. She featured in the press as much for her series of unhappy marriages as for her success on the stage.

A number of her songs are still remembered today, including this one, Its a bit of a Ruin that Cromwell Knocked About a Bit, Tommy make room for your uncle and Don’t Dilly Dally .

She had a reputation for being “blue”, but her songs and sketches when written down usually appear pretty mild, even by the standards of the day. It was something about the way she delivered the material …  

Her early death saw at least 50,000 fans lining the route of her funeral.

I’m not aware of her material being taken up by traditional singers, but many of her songs can still be heard in pub singarounds. The lyrics to this song were written by the prolific Fred W Leigh

Sources:

Marie Lloyd sings it:

Last Updated on May 23, 2021 by John Baxter | Published: April 17, 2020

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