{"id":5518,"date":"2020-10-26T21:10:45","date_gmt":"2020-10-26T21:10:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/folksongandmusichall.com\/?page_id=5518"},"modified":"2025-12-18T07:07:46","modified_gmt":"2025-12-18T07:07:46","slug":"my-old-dutch","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/folksongandmusichall.com\/index.php\/my-old-dutch\/","title":{"rendered":"My old Dutch"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
AKA<\/strong><\/td><\/td><\/tr>
First Published<\/td> 1892<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Lyrics<\/strong><\/td>Albert Chevalier<\/td>Music<\/strong><\/td>Charles Ingle<\/td>Roud<\/strong><\/td>RN25943<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Music Hall Performers<\/strong><\/td>Albert Chevalier (1861-1923)<\/td><\/tr>
Folk performances<\/strong><\/td>S<\/strong>ource Singers
<\/strong>\u201cA cockney family\u201d 1930s-50s England : London
Hall, Gordon 1989 England : Sussex<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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I've got a pal,\nA reg'lar out an' outer,\nShe's a dear good old gal,\nI'll tell yer all about 'er.\nIt's many years since fust we met,\n'Er 'air was then as black as jet,\nIt's whiter now, but she don't fret,\nNot my old gall\n\nWe've been together now for forty years,\nAn' it don't seem a day too much,\nThere ain't a lady livin' in the land\nAs I'd \"swop\" for my dear old Dutch.<\/em>\n\nI calls 'er Sal,\n'Er proper name is Sairer,\nAn' yer may find a gal\nAs you'd consider fairer.\nShe ain't a angel, she can start\nA-jawin' till it makes yer smart,\nShe's just a woman, bless 'er eart,\nIs my old gal!\n\nSweet fine old gal,\nFor worlds I wouldn't lose 'er,\nShe's a dear good old gal,\nAn' that's what made me choose 'er.\nShe's stuck to me through thick and thin,\nWhen luck was out, when luck was in,\nAhl wot a wife to me she's been,\nAn' wot a pal!\n\nI sees yer Sal,\nYer pretty ribbons sportin'\nMany years now, old gal,\nSince them young days of courtin'.\nI ain't a coward, still I trust\nWhen we've to part, as part we must,\nThat Death may come and take me fust\nTo wait... my pal!<\/pre>\n\n\n\n
A Cockney music Hall song still remembered by traditional singers in the second half of the 20th century.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Albert Chevalier (1861-1923) was a legitimate theatre actor before he was eventually persuaded to appear in the Halls. He was a key figure in making the turn-of-the-century Halls respectable, and was deeply disgusted when he was missed off the bill the first Royal Command Performance in 1912:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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I think I may claim without egotism that my work has helped to purify the music halls and has assisted to produce a condition of things which has made the command performance possible.<\/p>\nquoted in Baker: British Music Hall<\/em><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
He was a singer of sentimental and comic songs: two of which are remembered today , this one and Wot cher! Knocked ’em in the Old Kent Road. <\/em>Chevalier was popular with the audience, but tended to divide the opinion of his fellow professionals: some thought him a brilliant comic performer, others felt he laid it on a bit too thick: [making] “a dozen gestures, a dozen grimaces, when one would be ample<\/em>“.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\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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Sources:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n