{"id":3765,"date":"2020-06-19T13:50:48","date_gmt":"2020-06-19T13:50:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/folksongandmusichall.com\/?page_id=3765"},"modified":"2025-12-17T10:17:40","modified_gmt":"2025-12-17T10:17:40","slug":"the-little-shirt-that-mother-made-for-me","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/folksongandmusichall.com\/index.php\/the-little-shirt-that-mother-made-for-me\/","title":{"rendered":"Little shirt that mother made for me, The"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
AKA<\/strong><\/td>The little shirt
The day that I was born<\/td><\/tr>
First Published<\/td> 1903<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Lyrics<\/strong><\/td>Harry Wincott<\/td>Music<\/strong><\/td>Harry Wincott<\/td>Roud<\/strong><\/td>10437<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Music Hall Performers<\/strong><\/td>Tom Woottwell  (1865-1941)<\/td><\/tr>
Folk performances<\/strong><\/td>Source Singers<\/strong>
Dorothy Spicer , nd, Sussex, England
? Pidgeon, 1957, Dorset, England
Clarence Sayer\/Bob Hart, 1960s, Suffolk, England
Fred Moss\/Daudy Dockerill, 1964\/65, Suffolk, England
Margaret Birkett, 1965, Westmoreland, England
Joan Davies, 1960s\/70s, Yorkshire, England
George Belton, 1971, Sussex, England
Aileen Stollery, 1971, Suffolk, England
Robert Stewart, 1971, Shetland, Scotland
Arthur Gates, 1972, England
Jack Beeforth, 1974, Yorkshire, England
Freda Palmer, 1975 Oxfordshire, England
Bob Mills, 1977, Hampshire, England
Bill Smith, 1982, Shropshire, England
Bob Arnold, 1991, Oxfordshire, England
Lucy Reader, 1996, Gloucestershire, England<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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I shan't forget the day that I was born\n'Twas on a cold and frosty winter's morn\nThe doctor said I was a chubby chap\nAnd when the nurse she took me on her lap\nOh she washed me all over I remember\nAnd after powder-puffing me you see\nShe laid me in the cradle near the fender\nIn the little shirt my mother made for me.\n\nThe first day that I wore me knicker-bocks\nI did feel funny after wearing frocks\nI looked a little picture, they all say\nBut when they sent me out to run and play\nOh I didn't like the breeches I was wearing\nSo in the street I took 'em off you see\nAnd I started walking back home brave and daring\nIn the little shirt my mother made for me.\n\nLast year when I was on me holidays\nUpon the briny ocean I would gaze\nThe water looked so nice I thought I'd go\nAnd have a swim, but in a minute, how\nAll the girls upon the beach at me were staring\nAnd some were taking snap-shots I could see\n'Twas a good job for me that I was wearing\nThe little shirt my mother made for me.\n\nWhen first they told me to school I must go\nI didn't like the teacher you must know\nBecause I played truant once, oh dear\nThe master shouted, 'Muggins, you come here.'\nAnd his thick stick came down wallop on me\nThere's no mistake it spoilt my pedigree\nI'd the map of England printed nicely on me\nNear the little shirt my mother made for me.\n <\/pre>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Another fondly remembered early 20th century Music Hall song which has featured in the repertoire of source singers all over England in the last 75 years. The little shirt <\/em>has proved popular in America and has appeared on a number of “country tinged” commercial recordings including those by Wilf Carter and Marty Robbins. It also features in the repertoire of a number of bluegrass players, and is similarly popular in Ireland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It was written by the prolific Harry Wincott<\/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