{"id":16570,"date":"2022-07-15T15:26:00","date_gmt":"2022-07-15T15:26:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/folksongandmusichall.com\/?page_id=16570"},"modified":"2025-12-09T22:29:32","modified_gmt":"2025-12-09T22:29:32","slug":"darling-mabel","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/folksongandmusichall.com\/index.php\/darling-mabel\/","title":{"rendered":"Darling Mabel"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
AKA<\/strong><\/td>The Love Letter<\/td><\/tr>
First Published<\/td>1896<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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Writer\/composer<\/td>Bennett Scott and A J Mills<\/td>Roud<\/strong><\/td>RN23601<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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Music Hall Performers<\/strong><\/td>Leonard Barry<\/td><\/tr>
Folk performances<\/strong><\/td>Collected from the singing of:<\/strong>
Scott, Harry; England ; Bedfordshire, 1946-68
Alice Kane recalled singing this song as a child in Ulster in the early 20th century<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Joe was in love with sweet Mabel\nAnd Dame Rumour said he was anxious to wed\nBut somehow he never felt able\nTo speak when his loved one was nigh\nHe'd blush like a rose when he met her\nAnd over each word he would stammer absurd\nBut once in the form of a letter\nHe thought for her heart he'd apply\nSo straight way he wrote this business like note\n\n'Darling Mabel, now I'm able\nTo buy the happy home\nSince they've raised my screw, love\nI've enough for two, love\nWill you marry, do not tarry\nAnswer yes or no\nI conclude with love and kisses\nYours for ever, Joe'<\/em>\n\nJoe, for his sweet Mabel's answer\nWould wait on the mat for the postman's rat-tat\nAnd wonder if she'd say 'I can't, sir'\nOr promise to be his own wife\nHe waited six months, and got thinner\nHe'd sob and he'd sigh and would pipe his blue eye\nWould go without breakfast or dinner\nIn fact, he felt tired of his life\nIn dreams he would quote that letter he wrote ..\n\n\nThe sequel I haste to be stating\nFor truth now to tell, Mabel loved him quite well\nThen why did she keep the chap waiting\nThe answers as plain as can be,\nHis life he'd determined to end it\nWhen in his old coat he discovered the note\nSomehow he'd forgotten to send it\nHe rushed off to Mabel with glee\nTheir Wedding's today, for he found pluck to say ..<\/pre>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
A sentimental mildly comic song by AJ Mills<\/a> and Bennett Scott<\/a>, performed by Leonard Barry (see short biography below). It was remembered by a handful of traditional performers in the second half of the 20th century.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The song seems to have been a big hit in the 1890s. According to Lewis Winstock it was widely sung by soldiers of the British Yeomanry in the South African wars of 1899 to 1902. Angela Thirkell was taught the song has a child by her nurse in the 1890s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not to be confused with an earlier song of the same title by WP Chase, which can be found in the Levy collection.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
I have not been able to find out much about the performer, Leonard Barry. According to IMBD<\/a> he was born in 1869. His appearances in The Era <\/em> suggest that was a very popular performer in pantomimes and Music Hall between the mid-1890s and the late 1920s  – by which time  he had appeared as an actor in several British films . The most complete description I have found comes from an article published in 1956 by Monty Carew, describing Barry as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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a great singer of chorus songs.. given to singing his songs more quietly than most of his colleagues. The original singer of many favourite ditties, his best remembered are: The Fatal Wedding <\/em>and Darling Mabel. <\/em>He died on January 14, 1940 after a long retirement from the Halls<\/p>\nWestminster & Pimlico News – Friday 13 July 1956<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
A recording or download of this song can be purchased from Windyridge CDs.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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