Far, far away (1912)

AKA
First Published 1912
Lyrics Worton David/Sam Mayo Music Worton David Roud RN21978

Music Hall Performers Sam Mayo
Folk performances Source Singers
Morley, Fred 1964-65 England, Suffolk

I went to a race-course last July, far, far away
I backed a horse called 'Kidney Pie' far, far away
My horse it won, I danced with glee, I went to draw my L.S.D.
But the bookmaker, where was he? Far, far away.

My friend Jim is a fireman bold, he puts out fires
He went to a fire, last week, I'm told, 'cos he puts out fires
The flames set fire to some dynamite, where Jim went we don't know quite
But wherever he's gone he'll be alright, 'cos he puts out fires.

When my wife's mother was taken ill I pulled her through
Although I've got no doctor's skill I pulled her through
They sent for me at half past four, I went and found poor ma-in-law
Was simply lying at death's door, so I pulled her through.

I'm engaged to a charming girl and she's coming out tonight
She's eyes like diamonds, teeth like pearls and she's coming out tonight
I'll take her down a rustic dell. I'm stoney broke, it's sad to tell
So if she's got eyes like diamonds, well, they're coming out tonight.

Everything my wife gets, her sister wants
Bearskin coats and sealskin sets, her sister wants
Although she's single I may say, she copies my wife in every way
My wife had a baby yesterday - Heaven bless Lloyd George.

My boy at school an essay wrote, called the 'Bitter End'
It was a splendid anecdote called the 'Bitter End'
When teacher read it she turned white, for these were the words my boy did write
'A dog chased our tom cat last night and he bit her end.'
 

This Far Far Away, appears on Neil Lanham’s excellent Comic Songs of the Stour Valley , sung by Fred Morley. Another example of an early 20th century Music Hall song remembered by pub singers in south-east England in the 1950s and 60s.

This version of Far Far Away was published by Worten David and Sam Mayo in 1912 and was sung by Sam Mayo in the Halls. The first verse of this song follows an identical structure to another song called Far Far Away, published in 1883 (RN13851) sung at the time by Slade Murray. Both are derived from a much parodied hymn: this is explored further in the entry for the 1883 song.

The 1912 version follows the structure of the original hymn a little more closely, and Fred Morley sings it the tune most often associated with the hymn. It’s reasonable to assume that those writing the 1912 version were aware of the earlier 1883 parody, the hymn or both….

Sources:

A version of There is a Happy Land: source of many parodies: