| AKA | One of the ruins that Cromwell knocked about a bit |
| Lyrics | Harry Bedford and Terry Sullivan | Music | Terry Sullivan | Roud | RNV27753 |
| Music Hall performers | Marie Lloyd 1910s, 20’s |
| Folk performances | ?? |
I'm very, very fond of ruins, ruins I love to scan You'd say I'm very fond of ruins if you saw my old man I went out in the country for a stroll the other day I love to study history and pubs along the way I came across an Abbey that was crumbled all to bits It looked a relic of a bye-gone day A gentleman said, "What is this?" I said, "Excuse me, Sir I'll tell you all about it if I may. It's one of the ruins that Cromwell knocked about a bit One that Oliver Cromwell knocked about a bit In the gay old days there used to be some doings No wonder that the poor old Abbey went to ruins Those who've studied history sing and shout of it And you can bet your life that isn't a doubt of it Outside the Oliver Cromwell last Saturday night I was one of the ruins Cromwell knocked about a bit. I showed him round the ruins and explained to him its charms He said, "Let us adjourn and call at the common Cromwell Arms" So in the Cromwell Arms we spent the best part of the day I soon found out the Landlord's name was Cromwell by the way The Landlord started arguing on Cromwell and his men Till I said, "Is this Cromwell fellow dead?" He threw us out, and when I came to, on the grass outside I looked up at the Abbey and I said, As above or change to: 'I'm one of the ruins etc.' I went back to the Cromwell Arms and doubled up my fist The pot-man's name is Oliver and he's always on the twist I said, "I've come to see the ruins that's all I'm about" He said "You'll be a lovely ruin if you don't go out" I told him and the Landlord they'd be better in a home I said, "You've both got Cromwell on the brain" Then something seemed to fall and I thought that I had collapsed I murmured as I came round once again.
Marie Lloyd’s popularity as “Queen of Comedy” and her cheeky stage persona were achieved despite several unhappy, at times violent marriages.Years of spousal abuse and a punishing work schedule eventually led to a nervous breakdown. After her comeback she couldn’t disguise her ill-health, and in 1920 she made light of both with this song.
Another Marie Lloyd song you may hear in pub singarounds, but which doesn’t feature very often in the traditional folk repertoire.
Sources:
- Lyrics: monologues.co.uk
- Sheet music: monologues.co.uk
- Kilgarriff Sing us
- Baker British Music Hall
As sung by Marie Lloyd’s daughter and namesake:
Last Updated on October 23, 2020 by John Baxter | Published: April 18, 2020
