You’ve got a long way to go

AKA Got a long way to go
Around her shiver-i-o
First Published 1898
Writer/composer A.J. Mills and F.W. Carter Roud RN10717

Music Hall Performers Frank Coyne
Folk performances Collected from the singing of:
Wratten, Bill England : Sussex : c1960
Spooner, Ted; England; 1965c
Blackburn, Adge; England : Lincolnshire : 1970
Webber, Percy; England : Somerset : 1977
Moody, Albert ;England : Hampshire 1980c
Fennel, Phyllis; England : Somerset : 1980
Driscoll, Ray England : London 1993
[unidentified male] England : Worcestershire : 1950-69

One morning in a little tailor's shop I saw displayed
A pair of ladies bloomers, seven and sixpence, ready made
I took my daughter in next day, the fellow got his tape
And murmured as he started putting it around her shape.

'You've got a long way to go, you've got a long way to go
Oh what a terrible lump of stuff
The three-yard measure ain't long enough
She's over ninety-five round her 'Seraglio'
To find a pair of pants to fit her, you've got a long way to go.'

Once on a donkey's back, I tried Dick Turpin's ride to York
When suddenly the moke stopped dead and I got off to walk
'Twas miles out in the country and he wouldn't move for me
I asked a slop where London was, 'Lord luv a duck' said he,

'You've got a long way to go, you've got a long way to go'
He gave the Jerusalem moke a smack
And planted a pin in it's 'Union Jack'
He wouldn't move an inch, the copper said, 'What ho,
You'd better get hold of the donkeys rudder, you've a long way to go'

My wife ain't noted for her looks, her chivvy chase, Oh lor!
It's like a Chinese puzzle or the knocker on the door
The kids all called her 'Monkey Brand' in our localitee
To find out such a specimen of phi-si-og-no-mee.

You've got a long way to go, you've got a long way to go
Talk of the girls at the Sandwich Isles
With warts and pimples all round their dials
I've seen some ugly mugs on view at Barnum's show
But to find a face like my old woman's, you've got a long way to go.

One day I saw lady-friend a-marching up the West
With such a godly pious band, in blue and scarlet dressed
She banged upon her tambourine, and shouted to the lot
'We're marching on to Glory' I said 'Marching on to what?'

'You've got a long way to go, you've got a long way to go
It's no use banging your blooming drum
And shouting, 'Sinners, oh won't you come?'
I like to hear you say you're going to Glory, Flo
If you're only as far as Piccadilly, you've a long way to go.'
 

A popular song most famously sung in the halls by Frank Coyne, it was written by AJ Mills  with music by Frank Carter. Another early 20th century hit from the Halls well remembered by traditional singers in late 20th century southern England. You can hear Brian Matthews sing it at the Vaughan Williams Memorial Library site, where you can find links to several other recordings via the VWML entry .

AJ Mills (1871-1919) was another prolific songwriter for the Halls in the early 20th century. He often wrote in collaboration with others, most notably Bennett Scott. Mills/ Scott hits included: Fall in and follow me, All the nice girls love a sailor, By the side of the Zyder Zee, and A Slight mistake on the part of my valet

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