What a friend! What a sport!

AKA
First Published1907

Writer/composerCharles CollinsRoudRN40044

Music Hall PerformersTom Leamore
Folk performancesCollected from the singing of:
Cotter, Harry ; Australia : New South Wales ; no date
Jolly good pals are a trouble to find
I've got a pal but he's really too kind
When he comes round to our house it is grand
He feeds us up on the fat of the land
When he buys a chicken for dinner you see
I don't have any it's too rich for me
After the wife lets me lick out the dish
He gives me the wishbone and tells me to wish

What a friend! What a sport!
What a jolly good pal to me
I go to work at five each morn
He gives the wife cups of tea when I'm gone
But if I ever live to have plenty of LSD
I won't run away
I'll pay him someday
For all that he's done for me


I told the wife I would take her away
Down to Southend for a short holiday
But when the time came for us to depart
It played the death March on my old woman's heart
When it was laid up and so I couldn't go
My pal came round to our house and said Joe
I'm going down to Southend by the sea
You can't take the wife shall I take her with me

What a friend! What a sport!
What a jolly good pal to me
He took my wife away you know
Said I'll look after her, don't worry Joe
But if I ever live to have plenty of LSD
I won't run away
I'll pay him someday
For all that he's done for me

Written by Charles Collins, a hit for Tom Leamore in 1907.

A contempoary recording of the song is available for purchase from Windyridge CD or Download – Jack Charman: The Matrimonial Handicap

The song has been collected by Harry Cotter, a traditional singer from New South Wales|:

Sources:

  • Kilgarrif Sing Us
  • Lyrics: transcribed by John Baxter from Jack Charman recording
  • Sheet Music: not available to me at this time
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