Here comes OXO
AKA | |
First Published | 1910 |
Writer/composer | RP Weston and Fred Barnes | Roud | RN30200 |
Music Hall Performers | Billy Williams |
Folk performances | Source Singers Webster-Jones, Bill Shilton 1963 England : Norfolk |
Now, Two little bow-legged boys And one little knock-kneed kid Knocked their heads, I mean their legs Together oh yes they did. Said the one with the legs like X 'You two have legs like O's But stand by me and I'll get all three Good food and the finest clothes.' So out they went all three And the people yelled with glee: Here comes OXO, O-X-O, Oxo.' While the kids walked down the street They advertised extract of meat. With gaily coloured socks, Oh, they chase the fairer sex While the bow-legged boys walked one each side, Of the kiddie with legs like X These three little Oxo boys The Oxo firm soon found Went in all three to the Company And demanded a thousand pounds. Said the boss with a smiling face: 'You're a good advert I know,' And they gave each kid a hundred quid And told them they could go. And as they marched away You could hear the people say: These three little Oxo boys With the cash they got that day On pleasure to the country went But they met three bulls, they say. These three little Oxo boys Were tossed up by each bull With pants all burst They came head first Through a skylight on the school. As through the air they fell, The scholars gave a yell:
Another turn of the century Music Hall song remembered by traditional singers late in the 20 century. It was written by a team involving the prolific RP Weston, this time with Fred Barnes . The song was popularised by the extremely successful performer and recording artist Billy Williams
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%3A30200
- Kilgarrif Sing Us
- Lyrics: Monologues.co.uk
- Sheet Music: not found