{"id":13272,"date":"2021-10-25T18:35:43","date_gmt":"2021-10-25T18:35:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/folksongandmusichall.com\/?page_id=13272"},"modified":"2021-10-26T13:30:11","modified_gmt":"2021-10-26T13:30:11","slug":"theres-a-friend-and-every-milestone","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/folksongandmusichall.com\/index.php\/theres-a-friend-and-every-milestone\/","title":{"rendered":"There’s a friend at every milestone"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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AKA<\/strong><\/td>A friend at every milestone<\/td><\/tr>
First Published<\/td>1917<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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Writer\/composer<\/td>George Asaf \/ Felix Powell<\/td>Roud<\/strong><\/td>RN29739<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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Music Hall Performers<\/strong><\/td>Fred Barnes, Charles Coborn<\/td><\/tr>
Folk performances<\/strong><\/td>Collected from the singing of:<\/strong>
Ford, Amy; England ; Somerset ; 1973<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Tramping on the road at the close of day, \nSing a little song to pass time along. \nKeep a cheery smile for the milestones grey, \nEveryone a welcome friend; \nFor they lead you and the speed you \nAlways nearer to your journey's end\n\nThere's a friend in every milestone \nAll along the old road home\nCan't you read their friendly greeting? <\/em>\n\"Here's one mile less to roam\" \nThere's a cosy place and a smiling face \nTo crown the journey's end \nSo we'll pass each milestone gaily singing \nWelcome Old Friend!<\/em>\n\nLights begin to gleam on the last hilltop,\nEvery mile a stone, so silent and alone \nThro' the mossy banks see their grey heads pop, \nAlways with the same old sign.\nLet the dust choke let the rain soak\nVery soon will see the home lights shine\n<\/pre>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
A marching song from the First World War associated both with the singing of \u00a0Fred Barnes<\/a> and Charles Coburn who apparently at the age of 70 walked from Land’s End to John O’Groats. The lyrics were written by George Asaf (a pseudonym used by George Powell<\/a>) with music composed by his brother Felix Powell<\/a>. The pair had had a great hit with Pack up your troubles in your old kit bag<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In 1973 the song was collected from singing of Amy Ford by Bob and Jacqueline Patten, you can hear her version at the British Library Sounds Archive<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Sources:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n