Father, mother and an apple

AKA Mother had an apple
First Published 1901
Writer/composer Fred Murray and Fred W Leigh Roud RN24212

Music Hall Performers Vesta Victoria
Folk performances Collected from the singing of:
Costello, Cecilia; England : Warwickshire; 1967		 

McGlennon's Song Annual 1902

Father, Mother and an Apple
Written and composed by Murray and Leigh. Sung by Miss Vesta Victoria. Music at Francis, Day and Hunter's.

My father met my mother in a very funny way!
He dropped across her coming from the sweet-stuff-shop one day.
She had an apple in her hand, I think it was the right!
Father winked at Mother, then she let him have a bite.
They courted one another for a long, long time;
Those two had lots of fun.
They saved up all their money, and when they'd got enough
The clergyman he rolled them into one.

Father and Mother fell in love with one another;
Mother had an apple and let him have a bite.
I've just been and bought one, it looks so jolly fine!
So I want someone to have a bite at mine.

My Mother always says that if you want to please a man,
The best way is to 'kid' him', and to coax him if you can;
And if you've got a fancy that you'd like to be his wife,
Mind and keep his 'tummy' full, and he'll be yours for life.
You've heard of Mr Adam and his wife I'm sure;
Well, I think she was smart;
She picked some fruit and fed him, which only goes to prove
She knew the quickest way to Adam's heart.

My Father told my Mother in my hearing yesterday
He loved her just the same as when as kids they used to play.
They both were in the parlour - it's a good job I'm so small
I was in the corner, so, of course, I heard it all.
They snoozled and canoodled, and the dear old girl
Around his neck she clung;
And father seemed to like it - he whispered in her ear
"I can't forget the days when I was young."

This song was a hit for Vesta Victoria at the turn-of-the-century. It was written by the Fred W Leigh, working with Fred Murray. You can purchase a recording of Vesta Victoria singing it from the excellent Windyridge CDs

In the 1960s the chorus of the song was remembered by Cecilia Costello, and you can hear a recording of her singing it at the Vaughan Williams Memorial Library

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