| AKA | |
| First Published | 1927 |
| Writer/composer | Harry Woods | Roud | RN27087 |
| Music Hall Performers | Florrie Forde |
| Folk performances | Source Singers McCormack, Mary; Canada: Newfoundland; 1978 |
See that sun in the morning, Peeking over the hill? I'll bet you're sure it always has And sure it always will. That's how I feel about someone, How somebody feels about me. We're sure we love each other That's the way we'll always be. Oh, we ain't got a barrel of money, Maybe we're ragged and funny But we'll travel along Singing a song Side by side. Don't know what's comin' tomorrow Maybe it's trouble and sorrow But we'll travel the road Sharing our load Side by side. Through all kinds of weather What if the sky should fall? Just as long as we're together, It doesn't matter at all. When they've all had their quarrels and parted We'll be the same as we started Just a-traveling along Singing a song Side by side. We're all hunting for something Something we don't know what 'Cause none of us are satisfied With things we know we've got. We all forget about moonlight, As soon as we've given our vow But we'd all be so happy if we'd start and sing right now:
The links between this song and the halls may seem tenuous, but in the UK some element of its popularity will have been due to it being sung by performers and audience in the halls. It gave rise to at least two popular parodies sung widely in the folk world.
A standard from the Great American Song book, from the pen of Tin Pan Alley songwriter Harry Woods who also wrote When the red red robin (goes bob, bob, bobbing) and Try a Little tenderness. On the British Music Hall stage it was most associated with the singing of Florrie Forde (1876-1940).
It has been found once in the singing of a traditional singer – collected by Yvonne Courtney from the singing of Mary McCormack.
Not to be confused with an earlier Side-by-side from 1891, written/composed by Harry Adams / JM Harrison, with first line: On English soil fair blooms the rose, sung in the Halls by Rose Sullivan
The song been parodied many many times, in particular there are two which might be considered traditional, see Side by side (dismantled bride version) and Side by side (Danny Brazil version)
An American Standard, by Bing Crosby with the Paul Whiteman Orchestra:
Sources:
- VWML entry
- Kilgarrif Sing Us
- Lyrics and sheet Music: Trove, National Library Australia
- Worldcat entry 1891 version
- Worldcat entry 1927 version
Last Updated on January 27, 2021 by John Baxter | Published: January 27, 2021
