Angelina Brown

AKA
First Published 1865
Writer/composer GW Hunt Roud RN24933

Music Hall Performers Fred French
Folk performances Source Singers
Hulan, Leonard 1960 Canada : Newfoundland		 

 From Diprose's Red White and Blue Monster Songbook c1865

 I'll tell you what befel me once, if you will list awhile, 
 And when you’ve heard my tale no doubt at my troubles you will smile
 I once went down to Ramsgate; left the missus up in town, 
 And fell in love with such a dove, Miss Angelina Brown
  
 At my going down to Ramsgate, my wife began to stare. 
 So I told her that the doctor advised the change of air. 
 She said I was quite well enough, began to pout and frown, 
 But little thought that I should meet with Angelina Brown.
  
 One day while walking on the “sands,” this girl I there did meet, 
 Oh, such a duck, and when I spoke, she answered me so sweet, 
 And when I ask'd her for name she did not give a frown,
 But answer'd “well” sir; if you please, it's Angelina Brown.
  
 Now with this dove I'd fell in love., for I met her ev'ry day,
 When tired of strolling on the “Sands,” we'd drive out in a “shay.”
 I had nought to fear from missus, who was minding shop in town,
 So by jove I led a jolly life with Angelina, Brown.
  
 Now along the sands to Broadstairs, I proposed one day to walk
 And so we did along the beach, neath the cliffs that’s made of chalk.
 But on coming back the same way, to my horror I soon found
 The tide was overtaking me, and Angelina Brown.
  
 The waves soon overtook us, oh crikey such a mess
 I with Angelina’s parasol wav’d a signal of distress, 
 But ere a boat could reach us, I feared that we should drown
 For I couldn't keep my legs nor more, could Angelina Brown
  
 Up rose the water faster poor Angelina cried, 
 When to my joy unbounded, a little boat I spied
 I way'd my signal wildly, the boat on us bore down
 But just in time to save myself and Angelina Brown.
  
 Half drown'd they dragg'd us in the boat, near frighten'd out of life, 
 And landed us onshore where, to my horror stood my wife. 
 She looked fit to burst with passion, and I looked such a clown, 
 I bolted off and left her, with Angelina Brown
  
 So you see I got a damper, as well as nearly drown'd,
 Since then to purchase quietness, it’s cost me many a pound
 The “missus” now is master, and if I dare but frown, 
 I'm crushed if she but mentions, Miss  Angelina Brown.
  
 So married men take my advice, and mind what you're about
 You'll find it true whate'er you do, your wives will find it out
 Remember how I've suffer'd, if to Ramsgate you go down,
 Just mind you're not bowl'd-out like me, with Angelina Brown.

A song by GW Hunt, popularised in the Halls by Fred French and relatively widely printed in songbooks and broadsides, published as sheet music in London in 1865. American sheet music was published in the 1860s – it was not credited to GW Hunt, but according to the WorldCat Site the song has the same title and same first line, so we can be reasonably certain it is the same song. This version was apparently performed in the “to great applause” by black-face minstrel group Buckley’s New Orlean’s Serenaders, an English-born group that were based in the USA but also toured England on several occasions.

The song was collected in a slightly fragmented form, from the singing of Leonard Hulan in 1960, by Kenneth Peacock. Anna Kearney Guigné discusses how the song might have reached the singer in The Forgotten Songs of the Newfoundland Outports:

Given Hualan’s fragmented presentation of the song, it’s likely that he learned Angelina Brown from oral tradition. Nevertheless, by the late 1880s music retailers in St. John’s were certainly importing sheet music copies of popular favourites into Newfoundland and making them readily available at cheap rates.

Anna Kearney Guigné, Forgotten Songs, p20

PS: There is an earlier, different minstrel song called Angelina Brown which was published in 1854 as part of Christy’s and White’s Ethiopian Melodies [First Line: Come darkies listen unto me before I say farewell] .

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