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Joseph Tabrar (1857-1931) was one of the most prolific of all the songwriters for the Halls and a great self publicist, given to disparaging his own material:
Think of a catchy refrain. Think of the damn silliest words that will rhyme anyhow. Think of a haunting pretty melody and they are. The fortune of your publisher is made.
His professional life began at age 13 when he was a chorister singing at Evans’, though given his tendency to exaggeration is difficult to pick out what is true what is not in his biography …
Songs by Tabrar collected from traditional singers:
- Daddy wouldn’t buy me a bow-wow
- For me! For Me!
- For months and months and months
- She was fat, fair and forty
- Ting! Ting! That’s how the bell goes
Last Updated on April 27, 2023 by John Baxter | Published: April 26, 2022
