{"id":222,"date":"2019-12-11T20:32:35","date_gmt":"2019-12-11T20:32:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/folksongandmusichall.com\/?page_id=222"},"modified":"2025-12-09T22:27:55","modified_gmt":"2025-12-09T22:27:55","slug":"dont-dillydally-on-the-way","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/folksongandmusichall.com\/index.php\/dont-dillydally-on-the-way\/","title":{"rendered":"Don\u2019t dillydally on the way"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
AKA<\/strong><\/td>My old man
The cock linnet song<\/td><\/tr>
First published<\/td>1919<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Lyrics<\/strong><\/td>Fred Leigh<\/td>Music<\/strong><\/td>Charles Collins <\/td>Roud<\/strong><\/td>V53397 \/ 322460<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Music Hall performers<\/strong><\/td>Marie Lloyd<\/td><\/tr>
Folk performances<\/strong><\/td>Collected from the singing of:<\/strong>
The Keeping Family ; England : London ; 1930-50
Modern performances<\/strong>: The Clancy Brothers<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
 We had to move away,\n\u2018Cos the rent we couldn't pay\nThe moving van came round just after dark\nThere was me and my old man\nShoving things inside the van\nWhich we'd often done before let me remark\nWe packed all that could be packed\nIn the van, and that's a fact\nAnd we got inside all we could get inside\nThen we packed all we could pack\nOn the tail board at the back\nTill there wasn't any room for me to ride.\n\n <\/strong>My old man said follow the van\nAnd don't dilly-dally on the way\nOff went the cart with the home packed in it\nI walked behind with me old cock linnet\nBut I dillied and I dallied\nAnd I dallied and I dillied\nLost the van and don't know where to roam\nI stopped on the way to have the old half quartern\nAnd I can't find my way home.<\/em>\n\nI gave a helping hand\nWith the marble wash-hand stand\nAnd straight we wasn't getting on so bad\nAll at once the carman bloke\nHad an accident and broke\nWell, the nicest piece of china that we had\nYou'll understand of course\nI was cross about the loss\nSame as any other human woman would\nBut I soon got over that, what with \u2018two-out' and a chat\n\u2018Cos its little things like that what does you good.\n\n My old man said follow the van\nAnd don't dilly-dally on the way\nOff went the cart with the home packed in it\nI walked behind with me old cock linnet\nBut I dillied and I dallied\nAnd I dallied and I dillied\nLost the van and don't know where to roam\nNow who's going to put up the old iron bedstead?\nIf I ain't find my way home.<\/em>\n\nOh I'm in such a mess\nI don't know the new address\nDon't even know the blessed neighbourhood\nAnd I feel as if I might\nHave to stay out all the night\nAnd it ain't a going to do me any good\nI don't make no complaints\nBut I'm coming over faint\nWhat I want now is a good substantial feed\nAnd I sort o' kind o' feel\nIf I don't soon have a meal\nI shall have to rob the linnet of its seed.\n\n My old man said follow the van\nAnd don't dilly-dally on the way\nOff went the cart with the home packed in it\nI walked behind with me old cock linnet\nBut I dillied and I dallied\nAnd I dallied and I dillied\nLost the van and don't know where to roam\nYou can't trust these specials like the old time coppers\nWhen you can't find your way home.<\/em>\n<\/pre>\n\n\n\n
The famous story of a moonlit flit, with lyrics written by the prolific Fred W Leigh<\/a> with music by  Charles Collins<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A recording or download of this song can be purchased from Windyridge CDs.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sources:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n