Jollity Farm - FOLK SONG AND MUSIC HALL

Music Hall performers	Lesley Sarony, 30s-50s Randolph (Ran) Sutton, 20s-50s
Folk performances	??

Published 1929, Roud number V53412

 There's a farm called Misery, but of that we'll have none
 Because we know of one
 That's always lots of fun (Ha ha!)
 And this one's name is Jollity; believe me, folks, it's great
 For everything sings out to us as we go through the gate

 All the little pigs, they grunt and howl
 The cats mee-yow
 The dogs bow-wow
 Everybody makes a row
 Down on Jollity Farm

 All the little pigs, they grunt and howl
 The cats mee-yow
 The dogs bow-wow
 Everybody makes a row
 Down on Jollity Farm

 All the little birds go tweet, tweet, tweet
 The lambs all bleat
 And shake their feet
 Everything's a perfect treat
 Down on Jollity Farm

 Regular as habit
 The cocks begin to crow
 Can the old buck rabbit
 Sing "Stuff it up your jumper"
 Vo-do-de-oh

 All the little ducks go quack quack quack
 The cows go Moo
 The bull does, too
 Everyone says how do you do
 Down on Jollity Farm

No relation to any folksong that I know of….

The late great Bonzo Dog Doodah Band, revived some great songs from the late days of the Music Hall. This was one of them.

Written by the rather wonderful Lesley Sarony (brief biography below)who also wrote “I lift up my finger and I say tweet tweet” a brilliantly irritating song! Jollity Farm was written as a response song to the less cheerful Misery Farm. There is another verse about hens laying dried eggs – I really should find it!

The song also featured in the repertoire of the “Premier Light Comedian”: Ran Sutton, a man who was very particular about his appearance. He once had to travel between two late-night performances across London, he took a taxi and stood all the way, explaining “I don’t want creases in my crutch”. Ran’s big hit was “On mother Kelly’s doorstep“.

Leslie Sarony (1897-1985) was the stage name of Leslie Legge Frye one of the best-known comics and dancers of his day. He was the son of a portrait painter and was born in Surbiton. He appeared in talent shows as a young boy, but became a professional aged 14. After lying about his age and serving in the military during World War I, he resumed his career in variety, pantomime and revue. He made over 350 records under his own name, and many more using aliases, often with Jack Hylton and his band. The songs he sang often reflected the popularity of dance music and American jazz, both arguably factors in the decline of the Halls. Between 1935 and 1946 he performed as part of a double act with Leslie Holmes as The Two Leslies. Later in life he had great success as a character actor appearing in many films and TV series.

Sarony did sing a number of other songs which later appeared in the repertoire of traditional singer, including: