Big Ben Struck One

AKA
First Published1897

Writer/composerAJ Mills and Bennett ScottRoudRNV29924

Music Hall PerformersArthur Lennard
Folk performancesnone I’m Aware of
Jones he got mash'd on a lady 
He met in a South Western train ;
Fell in love right away, and the very next day
He wrote to his sweet Martha Jane
"Oh! please will you meet me tomorrow
By the Houses of Parliament,love?"
One o' - clock was the hour, in a beautiful shower,
Jones was awaiting his dove

Big Ben struck one! two!! three!!! four!!!!.
Jones was waiting in the rain for his darling Martha Jane;
Waiting, waiting, till half past ten,
Underneath the shadow of great Big Ben


Jones at the big clock kept glancing
Each hour that it started to chime,
As he hadn't a gamp you can bet he was damp,
It was raining the whole blessed time.
The policeman with looks of suspicion
Kept moving him on here and there;
Though his nose it was blue and his language was too,
His motto was "Never despair."

Big Ben struck one! two!! three!!! four!!!!.
Jones was waiting in the rain for his darling Martha Jane;
Waiting, waiting, till half past ten,
Underneath the shadow of great Big Ben


Just as ten-thirty was chiming.
A sweet little creature he spied ;
'Twas the girl of his heart, but he gave such a start,
For a big fellow walked by her side.
She came up and wished Jones "Good evening,"
But he turned away with a frown—
Then she murmured, "Ah! do let me introduce you
To my husband, Benjamin Brown."

Big Ben struck one! two!! three!!! four!!!!.
Jones was busy dodging blows, how he suffered no one knows;
Waiting, waiting, till half-past ten,
To get a thundering hiding from great big Ben.


This song was not remembered by any traditional singers I’m aware of – it is included to distinguish it from the children’s jumping rope rhyme (RN19549).

It was a hit for Arthur Lennard in 1897, written for him by AJ Mills and  Bennett Scott

Sources:

  • VWML entry
  • Kilgarrif Sing Us
  • Lyrics from Sheet Music: Scott, B., Mills, A. J. (Arthur), & Lennard, A. (1897). Big Ben struck one. Francis, Day & Hunter via Bodleian Libraries Mediated Copying
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