AKA | They’re all fine and large |
First Published | 1886 |
Writer/composer | Frederick Bowyer | Roud | RN32450 |
Music Hall Performers | Herbert Campbell |
Folk performances | Collected from the singing of: Keeping family, England : London; 1930s |
To be too modest nowadays Is not a thing that pays. It's best to shout what you've to sell In these advertising days I say this song is somewhat great To ventilate our wrongs But as for that, you all well know That nearly all my songs. They're all very fine and large They're sound and fat and prime If you think you can beat 'em It will take you all your time They're the widest in creation And I make no extra charge Who'll have a chance for a dozen or two? They're all very fine and large. To the ladies I must dedicate At least one special verse We court, we love, we marry them Don't laugh, you might do worse And oh, those tasty, dressy ones Who pass you with a wink And always know your Christian name Do I like 'em? Well, I think, Our policemen are a credit to The land that gave 'em birth They're the pluckiest set of fellows You'll find upon the earth At the Crystal Palace, once a year On revelry they meet Who'll take a dozen tickets now? To see the policemen's fete? I once rode in an omnibus And was so upset to find My fare it came to fourpence And I'd left my purse behind The conductor said, 'Look here, young chap This game won't do for me I'm going to take it out in kicks' And he only gave me three. But, I thought I'd go to Margate once For rest and change of air But oh, I lost some pounds of flesh The few days I was there I couldn't get a wink of sleep I shan't forget that bed The Landlady said 'Do you like the rooms?' I paid my bill and said,
A big hit in 1886, still sung at Keeping family get togethers in the 1930s.The song was originally sung by Herbert Campbell written for him by Fred Bowyer, whose brief biography appears below. Contemporary sources suggest that for a short period it was one of irritating songs/sayings you could not escape from.
According to the Oxford English Dictionary the colloquial phrase “all very fine and large” meaning “acceptable as far as it goes [but] implying that it may be unsatisfactory in other ways” originated with this song.
Frederick Bowyer (1849-1936) wrote dramatic sketches and songs for the Halls but is perhaps best remembered as a playwright – his classic Christmas play The Windmill Man once rivalled Peter Pan as festive family theatre entertainment.He started his working life at sea – he was originally expected to become a doctor, but writing for the Halls soon took over. His songs were sung by Herbert Campbell, Jenny Hill, GH MacDermott Dan Leno and others. Other hits included Up I came with my little lot and A little bit of sugar for the Bird
Sources:
- Entries in the Roud Indexes at the Vaughn Williams Memorial Library: https://archives.vwml.org/search/all:single[folksong-broadside-books]/0_50/all/score_desc/extended-roudNo_tr%3A32450
- Kilgarrif Sing Us
- Lyrics and sheet music: monologues.co.uk
- Fred Bowyer Times Obituary Dec 29 1936
- Oxford English Dictionary
Last Updated on August 19, 2024 by John Baxter | Published: April 29, 2023