Lambeth Walk, The (1899)

This song reflects racist, misogynist and/or colonial ideas that were commonplace at the time but are no longer acceptable today.

First Published 1899
Writer/composer EW Rogers Roud RN43178

Music Hall Performers Alec Hurley
Folk performances none 

The Lambeth Walk (original 1899 version)

Talk a-bout the Cake-Walk - just a bloomin' fake walk
Wot the folk did up-on the plan-tee-ation.
Come the Sur-rey side, boys, keep your peepers wide, boys.
The Lambeth Walk'll beat cre-a-tion.
Costers won't you come, where the kippers hum
And oh! The pearlies, whoa, the pearlies take your breaf away
Gals so light and gay.
Down the old 'lime chalk'.
Fevvers in their 'ats, all a-shout-in' rats.
And oh! the 'round guys! "Whoa! the round guys!"
Kick-in' up a dust, proud e-nough to bust
Is the style of the Lambeth Walk.

Talk a-bout the Cake Walk,
Why the Lambeth Walk 'ud knock it all to smithereens
It ain't a bloomin' fake walk,
It's the same as wot we use when out a-sellin' greens.
And we don't want no banjoes, burned cork or any fake,
The Lambeth Walk, there ain't no talk, that walk takes the cake.

If you want a sing-song, just a merry ding-dong,
Come and 'ear us 'owl at our 'armonie meeting;
Talk of balmy breezes wafting through the treeses
The fried-fish shop 'ull want some beating.
Oh! the middle bits gives the costers fits,
And oh! the 'taters! fish and 'taters!
On the cellar flaps all the gals and chaps
Dance as light as cork.
Never mind the 'tecs, arms around yer necks,
Pewters in yer 'and, orgin for yer band-
Is the style of the Lambeth Walk.

See us out at Whitsun - got the latest fits on,
'Roundmys' lavender and wilet frocks cut away;
Chaps and gals a-cuddlin', kissin' and a-fuddlin',
Our waggynette's a trifle 'orsey.
Cornet on the box, giving of it socks,
And oh, the moisture! pints of moisture
We can put away in a single day,
And don't it make yer talk.
Chingford we get out, chuck ourselves about-
It's over 'Liza! over Liza!
All been in the sun, rollin' 'ome at one
Is the style of the Lambeth Walk.

The first but not the only song with this title was written and composed by EW Rogers and sung by Alec Hurley (see brief biography below). As far as I can see traditional performers have not adopted this song. It’s included here because of the popularity of the other song of the same name!

When Hurley performed the song in the early 1900s it was something of a production, with a large company of dancers dressed as various Cockney characters…

The cake walk was originally a dance developed by black slaves in the southern states of America, mocking the mannered dancing of the wealthy slaveholders. Perhaps ironically white blackface minstrel performers in the mid 19th century adopted the dance, not realising who was being mocked. There was a revival of the dance in the 1890s, prompting this song suggesting that Cockneys had something better to offer.

It went on to inspire Noel Gay’s completely different song of the same name.

Alec Hurley (1871-1813) was best known as a coster comedian, though he first performed as a child aged 11 singing Irish songs. He spent some time working as a boxer in fun fairs before his success in the Halls. He was often billed as “The Coster King” and was famous for Cockney songs like this one. He toured Australia with Marie Lloyd in 1901 and they were married in 1906.

Sources:

  • Kilgarrif Sing Us
  • Lyrics: monologues.co.uk
  • Sheet Music: Music Hall Memories 9 (1935-1936) pp.210-212
  • Busby(1976) British Music Hall