My daddy is a gentleman

AKA
First Published 1900
Writer/composer Fred J Barnes / Charles Collins Roud RN24439, 31234

Music Hall Performers George D'Albert, Marguerite Broadfoote
Folk performances Collected from the singing of:
Pennock, Billy ; England : Yorkshire ; 1962

Two little maids chatted under a tree
Each little made of a different degree;
The rich little girl to the poor one began
"My dad" she said "is a gentleman
He always drives a fine carriage and pair
Yours only drives a big fan;
Your daddy works, but my daddy don't
My daddy is a gentleman"

"My daddy is a gentleman, he's dressed fine
My daddy don't go to work at half past nine"
Then the other maid replied "that's quite true,
But my daddy, you see
Works for mother and me,
So my daddy's a gentleman too"


Two little maids turned their eyes to the west,
Gazed at the church all in ivy-leaf dress;
Again said the wealthy maid, "Daddy goes there,
Twice ev'ry Sunday he joins them in prayer.
All make a bow as he walks to his pew,
All show respect where they can;
Why doesn't your daddy come there as well?
My daddy's a gentleman."

"My daddy's a gentleman, he's so good,
My daddy goes to church, your dad should;"
But the other maid replied, "That's quite true--
Yet my daddy he prays
At my bedside always,
So my daddy's a gentleman too."


One little maid wandered, home down the lane,
Hark to the shout! as a vanman draws rein;
Off dash the steeds — but he springs to each head,
Saved is the rich maid — the driver - lies dead!
Safe in her home, when she wakes, there she finds
The poor little maid, pale and wan,
And to her she murmurs as mem'ry returns,
"My daddy's a gentleman."

"My daddy's a gentleman — I'm so glad,
My daddy's a gentleman, but where's your dad?"
Then the other maid replied, ".God bless you I
But my daddy he tried
To save your life — and died -
Ah! my daddy's a gentleman too."


A slice of late Victorian melodrama originally sung in the Halls by George D’Albert and later by Marguerite Broadfoote.

It was collected 60 years later by Colin Wharton from the singing of Billy Pennock in Goatland, North Yorkshire.

Interestingly it is also a song that Shirley Collins remembered her grandmother singing.

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%3A24439, 31234
  • Kilgarrif Sing Us
  • Lyrics and Sheet Music: Personal Collection
  • Shirley Collins (2018) All in the Downs: Reflections on Life, Landscape, and Song
  • [on its popularity in East End, see Richard William Free (1905) Seven years’ hard]