Misery Farm

We’ve got a farm, a barn of a farm
Right in the middle of a swamp.
There aint any charm in our little farm
Right in the middle of a swamp.
Nothing’s grown since the day we came.
Misery Farm is our farm’s name.

We’re miserable, so miserable
Down on Misery Farm.
So are the animals, so are the vegetables
Down on Misery Farm.

The hens won’t lay.
We can’t make hay.
We work all day
And we get no pay.
We’re miserable, so miserable
Down on Misery Farm

A popular foxtrot from the late 1920s, sung by Leslie Sarony, Al Blowlly and others. The music reflects the popularity of dance bands and American jazz, both arguably factors in the decline of the Halls. It comes from the time when some would argue that Music Hall has been completely replaced by Variety. I’m not sure you can be that precise…

Misery Farm still seems popular in folk singarounds today, perhaps because of its links with the Bonzo Dog version of Jollity Farm which Leslie Sarony wrote as a response to this one..