That old fashioned mother of mine

There are colleens with eyes, just as fair as the skies,  
There are colleens the world thinks are handsome or wise. 
But deep in my heart, there's a sweet memory 
Of someone who still holds attractions for me.

Just an old-fashioned lady with old-fashioned ways,
And a smile that says, "Welcome!" to you,
An old-fashioned bedside where she kneels and prays
When the toil of the long day is through.
Though she wears no fine clothes, or no rich silken hose,
Still there's something that makes her divine;
For the angels above taught the way how to love
To that old-fashioned mother of mine.

There are jewels I know that set men's hearts aglow, 
If they're worn by the colleens that they worship so; 
But there is a jewel that I worship more: 
It's set in the heart of the one I adore.

Published in 1919, this song by David Worton, first became popular when sung by Talbot O’Farrell, who sang it throughout his long career.

Talbot O’Farrell (1878-1952) was billed as The Greatest Irish Entertainer of all Time, but despite his billing, O’Farrell was English-born (original name Will Parrot) and started his stage career as Jock McIver, Scottish Comedian and Vocalist! His big success came when he changed his name for the second time, put on a smart suit and started singing Irish ballads. He was the epitome of a new style of Irish comic- without the stereotypical knee breeches, shamrock and shillelagh that so often characterise the earlier generation of Irish comics in the halls. He was always immaculately dressed in top hat and formal attire. He spent long periods touring USA but also appeared in Canada, Australia and South Africa.

A highly sentimental song, in the style of a parlour ballad, probably not to the taste of most modern fans of traditional music. It has often featured in the repertoire of performers of Irish and Scottish folk music that favour what used to be called an “easy listening” style, like Tommy Scott and the duo Joe Gordon and Sally Logan, both acts which were extremely successful on the cabaret circuit in the 1960s and 1970s.

Some source singers like Charlie Bridger seem to have sung it “straight” but perhaps unsurprisingly, the Copper family parodied it, singing original words as is, but adding a final verse:

Just an old-fashioned daddy with old-fashioned ways
And a smile that says “have one” to you
There’s an old-fashioned parlour where he goes and stays
When the toils of his long day are through
Though he wears no fine clothes, he has got a red nose
But he never drinks minerals or wine
Still I hope and I think, I’ll be able to drink
Like that old-fashioned daddy of mine

Transcribed from the singing of Bob Copper

Sources:

• VWML entries
• Kilgarriff Sing Us
• Kilgarriff: Grace, Beauty
• Sheet Music and lyrics: Digital Commons at Univ Maine
• Bob Copper sings a parody: Sussex Traditions

Joe Gordon and Sally Logan, for decades regularly appeared on popular Scottish television programmes, singing in a style that was perhaps less appreciated by the generation of folk singers in the 1960s:

Last Updated on May 5, 2023 by John Baxter | Published: May 27, 2020