| First Published | 1913 |
| Writer/composer | Harry Dent and Tom Goldburn | Roud | RN10522 |
| Music Hall Performers | Gertie Gitana |
| Folk performances | Collected from the singing of: British and Australian Troops during World War 1 Modern performances The Fugitives |
Original lyrics 'So he wants you to forget him,' says a grey haired man in tears As he reads his daughter's letter still a girl of tender years 'He has left you for another who has crept into his heart Forget him and forgive him 'twould be better so to part' Then to his breast he takes her head as tenderly to her he said, Though your heart may ache awhile, never mind Though your face may lose it's smile, never mind For there's sunshine after rain, and then gladness follows pain You'll be happy once again, never mind.` 'In his love he may have faltered as his letter seems to say There will be a bright tomorrow, darkest clouds will fly away Time will be the wonder worker, though it's hard I know to part He may tire of his new love and creep back into your heart Love like pride must have it's fall, true love will conquer after all. As parodied in the trenches (from John Mullen) If the Sergeant steals your rum; never mind! And your face may lose it smile, never mind! He's entitled to a tot but not the bleeding lot, If the Sergeant steals your rum, never mind! When old Jerry shells the trench; never mind! And your face may lose it smile, never mind! Though the sandbags bust and fly, you have only once to die If old Jerry shells the trench, never mind! If you get stuck on the wire, never mind! And your face may lose it smile, never mind! Though the light's as broad as day, when you die they stop your pay So if you get stuck on the wire, never mind! If your mate just lost his sight, never mind And he screamed the whole damned night, never mind Though they'll send him home it's tough, he'll be great for blind-man's bluff So if your mate just lost his sight, never mind* If the Sergeant says your mad, never mind, P'haps you are a tad, never mind, Just be calm, don't answer back, 'cos the Sergeant stands no 'slack,' So if he says you are mad, well... you are! Never mind.* * Additional stanzas ,see blow
This tear jerker was a huge hit for Gertie Gitana in the early years of World War I, though she continued to sing it throughout her long career. Soldiers fighting in the trenches created and sang a particularly effective parody expressing their feelings about the war. I have provided the three stanzas given in John Mullen’s book with a fourth and fifth from other sources.
Gertie Gitana (1887-1957) started her career as a child star, using the name Little Gitana. She successfully developed a career as an adult performer, her billing changing she matured: she started as The Dainty Comedienne, later becoming The idol of the people and The Star who never fails to shine. She was an accomplished saxophone player and step dancer, though she was perhaps best remembered as a singer – the original performer of the anthem Nellie Dean. She was popular amongst the forces during World War 1, visiting the wounded in hospitals. Gitana had a long career, retiring in 1938 but returning in the late 40s and 50s to appear in Music Hall revival shows.
A version sung in the film Oh What Are Lovely War!
A lovely modern version by Vancouver folk collective, The Fugitives:
Sources:
- VWML entry
- Kilgarrif Sing Us
- Lyrics: monologues.co.uk
- Sheet Music: Francis and Day’s 34th Annual p8
- John Mullen(2015) The Show must go on! p205
- Image used under Creative Commons from National Portrait Gallery
- Additional stanzas compiled from Antiwarsongs.org, The First World War Poetry Digital Archive and memory
Last Updated on March 25, 2023 by John Baxter | Published: March 23, 2023
