{"id":12436,"date":"2021-08-26T19:38:52","date_gmt":"2021-08-26T19:38:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/folksongandmusichall.com\/?page_id=12436"},"modified":"2025-12-18T20:53:36","modified_gmt":"2025-12-18T20:53:36","slug":"now-i-have-to-call-him-father","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/folksongandmusichall.com\/index.php\/now-i-have-to-call-him-father\/","title":{"rendered":"Now I have to call him Father"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
First Published<\/td>1908<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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Writer\/composer<\/td>Charles Collins and Fred Godfrey<\/td>Roud<\/strong><\/td>RN25856<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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Music Hall Performers<\/strong><\/td>Vesta Victoria<\/td><\/tr>
Folk performances<\/strong><\/td>Collected from the singing of:<\/strong>
Smith, Mrs Elizabeth; England : Sussex; 1967<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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I used to be as happy as the dickies on the trees\nThat\u2019s when I was courting and my mind was well at ease\nI used to feel so loving with \u2018En\u2019ry by my side\nLooking forward to the day when I should be his bride\nBut now he\u2019s thrown me over and I\u2019m full of misery\nSomeone else has done me out of William \u2018Enery.\n\nHe used to come and court his little Mary Ann\nI used to think that he was my young man\nBut Mother caught his eye\nAnd they got married on the sly\nNow I have to call him Father.\n\n<\/em>\nHe used to call me \u201cDreamy-eyes\u201d and take me on his knee\nKiss my little ruby lips and make a fuss of me\nHe\u2019d bought a second handed home to comfort me through life\nNow he\u2019s thrown me over for a second handed wife\nAnd on the wedding day when he was married to mamma\nHe said, \u201cGo wash your face and kiss your new papa.\u201d\n\n\n\nWhen I got home this afternoon it broke my heart to see\nWilliam cuddling Mother as he used to cuddle me\nAt ten o clock last night I felt I\u2019d like to punch his head\nWhen he said to me, \"Pop off, its time to go to bed\u201d\nThe next young man I get I\u2019ll let him see me to the door\nBut I\u2019ll never introduce one to my Mother any more.<\/pre>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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A hit for Vesta Victoria<\/a> in the music halls of the early 20th century, remembered 60 years later by Mrs Elizabeth Smith of East Grinstead, collected and recorded by Ken Stubbs. The recording can be heard on the Sussex Traditions website<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
A recording of Vesta Victoria singing it:<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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