Following in father’s footsteps

AKA I’m following in father’s footsteps
First Published 1892
Lyrics EW Rogers Music EW Rogers Roud RN17699

Music Hall Performers Vesta Tilley
Folk performances Source Singers
unknown, 1988, England; Gloucestershire		 

To follow in your Father's footsteps
A motto for each boy
And following in Father's footsteps is
A thing I much enjoy
My Mother caught me out one evening
Up the West End on the spree
She said, “Where are you going?”
I answered, “Don't ask me,”

I'm following in Father's footsteps
I'm following the dear old dad
He's just in front with a fine big gal
So I thought that I'd have one as well
I don't know where he's going
But when he gets there I'll be glad
I'm following in Father's footsteps
I'm following the dear old dad.

Pa said that to the North of England
On business had to go
To Charing Cross he went, and where he booked
I booked first class also
I found myself that night in Paris
To the clergyman next door
I answered when he said, “What are
You in this gay place for?”

I'm following in Father's footsteps
I'm following the dear old dad
He's travelling now for his firm you see
In fancy goods it seems to me
I don't know where he's going
But when he gets there I'll be glad
I'm following in Father's footsteps
I'm following the dear old dad.

At Margate with papa I toddled out
To have a good old swim
I did not know the proper place to bathe
So I left it all to him
I found myself amongst some ladies
And enjoyed it, so did pa
Till ma yelled “Percy, fie for shame”
Said I “ Its all right ma,

I'm following in Father's footsteps
I'm following the dear old dad
He's just out there with the fair Miss Jupp
To show me how to hold girls up
I'm going to hold her next ma
So when he drops her I'll be glad
I'm following in Father's footsteps
I'm following the dear old dad.

To dinner up in town last night I went
And pa went there as well
How many lemonades we had, my word
I really couldn't tell
At 2am pa started off for home
Like this, and so did I
Folks said ”Mind where you are going”
But I simply made reply.

I'm following in Father's footsteps
I'm following the dear old dad
He's wobbling on in the front you see
And ‘pon my word he's worse than me
I don't know where he's going
But when he gets there I'll be glad
I'm following in Father's footsteps
I'm following the dear old dad.

A song still sung in folk circles today, but only formally collected once the late 1980s, and I’m pretty sure it would have been sung “knowingly” i.e. knowing that it was a classic music hall song.

Vesta Tilley (1864-1952) was the 2nd of 13 children born to a Worcester pottery worker. Her father worked part-time as chairman of the local Music Hall and from a young age she sang and mimicked other singers. Her father eventually moved to become chairman of St George’s music Hall in Nottingham, and Little Tilley and became The Great Little Tilley, a male impersonator from her early teens on. As she grew older she became Miss Vesta Tilley again, billed as “No vulgarity; Genuine Talent; All imitators notice: Tilley stands unrivalled”. From the 1880s on she was one of the major stars with hits like After the Ball, Burlington Bertie, Jolly good luck to who loves a soldier, and this one. She had great success in America as well as in Britain.

During World War I Tilley was often referred to as “Britain’s best recruiting sergeant” and many of her songs reflected an apparent enthusiasm for the war, though they were often tinged with cynicism. She forcefully encouraged young men in her audience to enlist with songs like It’s a fine time for a soldier and The army of today’s all right.

EW Rogers ((1864-1913) was initially a stage performer but by the early 1880s was a professional songwriter. His hits include Ask a policeman, and this one. His biggest impact went largely unnoticed – he acted as accompanist for George Robey, and wrote many of his songs and a great deal of his patter.

Sources:

Vesta sings it:

https://youtu.be/DHM7iGR6hl0