I wouldn’t leave my little wooden hut for you

This song uses discriminatory language and draws on stereotypes in a way that was commonplace at the time but no longer acceptable today.

Once on a cannibal isle there dwelt a dark-eyed maid
Lived all alone in her little log hut in the palm tree's shade
And on the Island she reigned as queen
One day a stranger appeared on the scene
Said he, 'Don't waste your time
Out in this awful clime
But come with me, my pretty southern maid
To my home across the sea'
But he went very red, when she turned up her nose and said,

I wouldn't leave my little wooden hut for you
I've got one lover, and I don't want two
What might happen there is no knowing
If he comes round, so you'd better be going
'Cos I wouldn't leave my little wooden hut for you.

Just then some cannibals came in sight with swords and spears
Longing for something for supper that night making ugly leers
That queen said, 'You'd better go
That chief in war-paint, you see, is my beau'
'Oh, is that true?' he said
As towards the stream he fled
And jumped into a boat that was floating there
He was soon clean out of sight
He won't return again, just to hear that girl explain.

A song originally performed by Daisy Dormer in 1905 (her brief biography appears below). It was Dormer’s first big hit though she had already been performing professionally for 10 years. She and others sang it in the pantomimes of the 05/06 season.

The song has been collected twice from traditional singers in Yorkshire.

Daisy Dormer (1883-1947) started her performing career in the mid-1890s and continued to appear until the 1930s. In her early years her stage persona projected a childlike innocence and she performed under the name Dainty Daisy Dimple, changing her name to Daisy Dormer in 1901. Described as a clever comedian and talented dancer, her biggest hits included Dancing beneath the Irish moon and I wouldn’t leave my wooden hut for you. In the latter part of her career she sang many American numbers including Ragtime Cowboy Joe and Down Home in Tennessee.

A contemporary recording by Walter Miller:

Sources:

• VWML entry
• Kilgarrif Sing Us
• Lyrics: monologues.co.uk
• Sheet Music: Francis and Day’s Album of All-Time Favourites No.2, p28
• The Era, British Newspaper Archive
• Music Hall Alice

Last Updated on April 27, 2023 by John Baxter | Published: April 27, 2023