Never mind

First Published 1913
Writer/composer Harry Dent and Tom Goldburn Roud RN10522

Music Hall Performers Gertie Gitana
Folk performances Collected from the singing of:
British and Australian Troops during World War 1
Modern performances
The Fugitives		 

Original lyrics
'So he wants you to forget him,' says a grey haired man in tears
As he reads his daughter's letter still a girl of tender years
'He has left you for another who has crept into his heart
Forget him and forgive him 'twould be better so to part'
Then to his breast he takes her head as tenderly to her he said,

Though your heart may ache awhile, never mind
Though your face may lose it's smile, never mind
For there's sunshine after rain, and then gladness follows pain
You'll be happy once again, never mind.`

'In his love he may have faltered as his letter seems to say
There will be a bright tomorrow, darkest clouds will fly away
Time will be the wonder worker, though it's hard I know to part
He may tire of his new love and creep back into your heart
Love like pride must have it's fall, true love will conquer after all.


As parodied in the trenches (from John Mullen)

If the Sergeant steals your rum; never mind!
And your face may lose it smile, never mind!
He's entitled to a tot but not the bleeding lot,
If the Sergeant steals your rum, never mind!

When old Jerry shells the trench; never mind!
And your face may lose it smile, never mind!
Though the sandbags bust and fly, you have only once to die
If old Jerry shells the trench, never mind!

If you get stuck on the wire, never mind!
And your face may lose it smile, never mind!
Though the light's as broad as day, when you die they stop your pay
So if you get stuck on the wire, never mind!

If your mate just lost his sight, never mind
And he screamed the whole damned night, never mind
‎Though they'll send him home it's tough, he'll be great for blind-man's bluff
So if your mate just lost his sight, never mind*

If the Sergeant says your mad, never mind,
P'haps you are a tad, never mind,
Just be calm, don't answer back, 'cos the Sergeant stands no 'slack,'
So if he says you are mad, well... you are! Never mind.*

* Additional stanzas ,see blow

This tear jerker was a huge hit for Gertie Gitana in the early years of World War I, though she continued to sing it throughout her long career. Soldiers fighting in the trenches created and sang a particularly effective parody expressing their feelings about the war. I have provided the three stanzas given in John Mullen’s book with a fourth and fifth from other sources.

Gertie Gitana (1887-1957) started her career as a child star, using the name Little Gitana. She successfully developed a career as an adult performer, her billing changing she matured: she started as The Dainty Comedienne, later becoming The idol of the people and The Star who never fails to shine. She was an accomplished saxophone player and step dancer, though she was perhaps best remembered as a singer – the original performer of the anthem Nellie Dean. She was popular amongst the forces during World War 1, visiting the wounded in hospitals. Gitana had a long career, retiring in 1938 but returning in the late 40s and 50s to appear in Music Hall revival shows.

A version sung in the film Oh What Are Lovely War!

A lovely modern version by Vancouver folk collective, The Fugitives:

Sources: