Old Adam was father of all

AKA Adam was father of all
Old Adam
Lyrics JB Geoghegan Music JB Geoghegan Roud 12875

Music Hall performers Sam Torr 1880s
Folk performances Solomon Ayres early 20th cent. 

What a wonderful world we are in, to be sure!
What a Babel and bustle of strife!
And ah! what a burden some have to endure
As they journey the rough road of life.
The strongest may push to a prosperous end,
While the weak and unsteady may fall,
But no matter my friend, how we finish, depend
Old Adam was father of all

Then never despair, though you have not your share,
Of riches that round you may fall,
But be to each other, like sister and brother,
For Adam was father of all.


One man may be lucky and rolling in wealth,
Being born this world's riches to gain,
While others may only favour and health,
And a cranium crammed full of brain;
But health is not bought, nor is happiness sold,
So a man should not merit despise;
For a sorrow may come lordliest home,
And a joy to the lowly may rise.

No wonder some men are born to command,
While others seem born to obey!
For one man will hold all he earns in his hand,
And another will cast it away;
But make the best use of your talents in time,
And fortune will give you a call,
For in spite of our creed, we're all of one breed,
And Adam was father of all.

Collected by Alfred Williams from the singing of Solomon Ayres in Wiltshire sometime 1900-1930.

Performed in the Halls by Sam Torr. The Victoria and Albert Museum have the sheet music, which was published in 1876, but only the cover is available online. The cover states that the song was sung with the greatest success by Sam Torr.

The British Library catalogue has Old Adam was Father of all (song begins “What a wonderful world”) by JB Geoghegan, published in London 1876.

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