{"id":11154,"date":"2021-06-04T10:21:07","date_gmt":"2021-06-04T10:21:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/folksongandmusichall.com\/?page_id=11154"},"modified":"2023-11-15T10:24:23","modified_gmt":"2023-11-15T10:24:23","slug":"gone-where-they-dont-play-billiards","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/folksongandmusichall.com\/index.php\/gone-where-they-dont-play-billiards\/","title":{"rendered":"Gone where they don’t play billiards"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
AKA<\/strong><\/td>He’s gone to where they don’t play billiards<\/td><\/tr>
First Published<\/td>1903<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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Writer\/composer<\/td>J.P. Harrington \/ Sam Mayo<\/td>Roud<\/strong><\/td>RNnone<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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Music Hall Performers<\/strong><\/td>Sam Mayo<\/td><\/tr>
Folk performances<\/strong><\/td>None?<\/strong>
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This song uses racist language, common at the time but no longer acceptable today.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A fellow went on a journey from Perth to Pimlico\nHe wanted to catch the Scotch Express\nHe had to meet his best girl Bess\nBut the train didn't stop at the station\nAnd it caused him a lot of pain\nSo he jumped upon the railway line\nAnd tried to stop the train.\n\nHe's gone to where they don't play billiards\nGone where they don't play cards\nGone where they don't give racing tips\nWhere they don't sell fish and chips\nNo one ever goes there to see a cricket match\nHe's gone where there's no train to catch.<\/em>\n\nA lady once found that her copper had got it's flue stopped up\nHer clothes every week it used to spoil\nShe couldn't bring them to the boil\nShe said the flue wanted cleaning,\nAnd so one fatal night\nUpon the copper fire she placed\nA pound of dynamite.\n\nHe's gone to where they don't play billiards\nGone where they don't play cards\nGone where they've got no copper sticks\nAnd supply the blue for 'nix'\nSunlight soap not wanted - they've got no wringing machine\nShe's gone where they've got no clothes to clean.<\/em>\n\nA fellow once started 'pro-ing', and he got on immense\nAs soon as on to the stage he ran\nThe audience rose up like one man\nHe was singing a lovely coon song,\nAnd doing a Negro kick\nHe'd just reached 'Honey honey'\nWhen somebody threw a brick.\n\nHe's gone to where they don't play billiards\nGone where they don't play cards\nGone where they sing no Negro air\nDon't even mention Buller there\nThere's no comic singer or dashing serios\nHe's gone where they don't want any 'pros'.<\/em>\n\nA fellow once made a wager how many eggs he'd eat\nThey brought him up a couple of trucks\nHe first ate hens, and then ate ducks\nWhen he'd shifted a couple of thousand\nTo make things good for trade\nHe started on a hard-boiled egg\nThat our old rooster laid.\n\nHe's gone to where they don't play billiards\nGone where they don't play cards\nGone to a place far, far away\nWhere the hens refuse to lay\nThey've no incubators there\nAnd very little sun\nHe's gone to where you get your eggs well done.<\/em>\n<\/pre>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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A song from the early 1900s written by JP Harrington and \u00a0Sam Mayo<\/a>, performed in the Halls by Sam Mayo. For a while in early the 20th century the title seemed to enter common use as a euphemism for death. “The Immobile One” <\/em>(Mayo) also made an early recording of the song which featured on a compilation CD of the same name, compiled by Tony Barker. According to the sleevenotes Mayo was a keen billiards player and died playing the game…. I have no evidence of traditional singers doing this one but I’m sure I’ve seen somebody perform this song, but I cannot remember who….. <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Sources:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n