{"id":18597,"date":"2023-01-20T07:37:16","date_gmt":"2023-01-20T07:37:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/folksongandmusichall.com\/?page_id=18597"},"modified":"2023-12-22T07:02:10","modified_gmt":"2023-12-22T07:02:10","slug":"lambeth-walk-the-1899","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/folksongandmusichall.com\/index.php\/lambeth-walk-the-1899\/","title":{"rendered":"Lambeth Walk, The (1899)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

This song reflects racist, misogynist and\/or colonial ideas that were commonplace at the time but are no longer acceptable today.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

First Published<\/td>1899<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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Writer\/composer<\/td>EW Rogers<\/td>Roud<\/strong><\/td>RN43178<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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Music Hall Performers<\/strong><\/td>Alec Hurley<\/td><\/tr>
Folk performances<\/strong><\/td>none<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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The Lambeth Walk (original 1899 version)<\/strong>\n\nTalk a-bout the Cake-Walk - just a bloomin' fake walk\nWot the folk did up-on the plan-tee-ation.\nCome the Sur-rey side, boys, keep your peepers wide, boys.\nThe Lambeth Walk'll beat cre-a-tion.\nCosters won't you come, where the kippers hum\nAnd oh! The pearlies, whoa, the pearlies take your breaf away\nGals so light and gay.\nDown the old 'lime chalk'.\nFevvers in their 'ats, all a-shout-in' rats.\nAnd oh! the 'round guys! \"Whoa! the round guys!\"\nKick-in' up a dust, proud e-nough to bust\nIs the style of the Lambeth Walk.\n\nTalk a-bout the Cake Walk,\nWhy the Lambeth Walk 'ud knock it all to smithereens\nIt ain't a bloomin' fake walk,\nIt's the same as wot we use when out a-sellin' greens.\nAnd we don't want no banjoes, burned cork or any fake,\nThe Lambeth Walk, there ain't no talk, that walk takes the cake.<\/em>\n\nIf you want a sing-song, just a merry ding-dong,\nCome and 'ear us 'owl at our 'armonie meeting;\nTalk of balmy breezes wafting through the treeses\nThe fried-fish shop 'ull want some beating.\nOh! the middle bits gives the costers fits,\nAnd oh! the 'taters! fish and 'taters!\nOn the cellar flaps all the gals and chaps\nDance as light as cork.\nNever mind the 'tecs, arms around yer necks,\nPewters in yer 'and, orgin for yer band-\nIs the style of the Lambeth Walk.\n\nSee us out at Whitsun - got the latest fits on,\n'Roundmys' lavender and wilet frocks cut away;\nChaps and gals a-cuddlin', kissin' and a-fuddlin',\nOur waggynette's a trifle 'orsey.\nCornet on the box, giving of it socks,\nAnd oh, the moisture! pints of moisture\nWe can put away in a single day,\nAnd don't it make yer talk.\nChingford we get out, chuck ourselves about-\nIt's over 'Liza! over Liza!\nAll been in the sun, rollin' 'ome at one\nIs the style of the Lambeth Walk.\n <\/pre>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
The first but not the only song with this title was written and composed by EW Rogers<\/a> and sung by Alec Hurley (see brief biography below). As far as I can see traditional performers have not adopted this song. It’s included here because of the popularity of the other song of the same name<\/a>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When Hurley performed the song in the early 1900s it was something of a production, with a large company of dancers dressed as various Cockney characters…<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The cake walk was originally a dance developed by black slaves in the southern states of America, mocking the mannered dancing of the wealthy slaveholders. Perhaps ironically white blackface minstrel performers in the mid 19th century adopted the dance, not realising who was being mocked. There was a revival of the dance in the 1890s, prompting this song suggesting that Cockneys had something better to offer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It went on to inspire Noel Gay’s completely different song of the same name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Alec Hurley<\/strong> (1871-1813) was best known as a coster comedian, though he first performed as a child aged 11 singing Irish songs. He spent some time working as a boxer in fun fairs before his success in the Halls. He was often billed as “The Coster King” and was famous for Cockney songs like this one. He toured Australia with Marie Lloyd in 1901 and they were married in 1906.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sources:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n