Saving them all for Mary
First Published | 1881 |
Writer/composer | Fred Gilbert | Roud | RN15130 |
Music Hall Performers | James Fawn |
Folk performances | Collected from the singing of: Pardon, Walter; England, Norfolk; 1978 |
A public house, the Rose and Crown, Holds one that I well know; An active little barmaid, Without pride or fal-de-ral. We're shortly to be married, And when a fellow's thus inclined; It's best to save the half-pence, So I'm taking care of mine. I'm saving them all for Mary, She shall have every one; I'm saving them all for mary, She shall have lots of fun. They know me well at the country bank, Cash is better than fame or rank; Heigh-ho lucky, I'll wed my ducky, The belle of the Rose and Crown. Of course, I do no flirting now, For Mary 'twould disgust; To marry one whom out of sight, She couldn't safely trust. I often meet old friends of mine, But simply pass them by; In fact I'm strictly honest, And I've never told a lie. I quite deserve a medal, I'm so very good and true; I frown on my companions, When the slightest wrong they do. The photographs of ladies, In an album I don't nurse; I never stay out late at night, You never hear me curse. I never drink champagne unless, By someone else it's bought; I've never seen the famed Argyle, Or Hampton's mazy court. At ten 'o clock each night I sleep, A bachelor's repose; I never fight or quarrel, And I've never punched a nose.
A song written by Fred Gilbert and sung in the halls by James Fawn – the earliest record I can find of anyone singing the song is this review from late 1881:
The song was sung as part of a series of fragments by Walter Pardon alongside Wake Up Johnny , When the cock begins to crow, and Down by the old abbey ruins. You can here them at the Vaughn Williams Memorial Library
Sources:
- VWML entry
- Kilgarrif Sing Us
- Lyrics: monologues.co.uk