{"id":18078,"date":"2022-12-02T16:37:08","date_gmt":"2022-12-02T16:37:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/folksongandmusichall.com\/?page_id=18078"},"modified":"2022-12-02T16:49:47","modified_gmt":"2022-12-02T16:49:47","slug":"tassels-on-the-boots","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/folksongandmusichall.com\/index.php\/tassels-on-the-boots\/","title":{"rendered":"Tassels on the boots"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
AKA<\/strong><\/td>Those tassels on her boots<\/td><\/tr>
First Published<\/td>1869<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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Writer\/composer<\/td>Robert Coombs<\/td>Roud<\/strong><\/td>RN3275<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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Music Hall Performers<\/strong><\/td>Robert Coombs<\/td><\/tr>
Folk performances<\/strong><\/td>Collected from the singing of:<\/strong>
Galt, Nellie; USA 1922
Hubbard, Mrs. H.H; USA : Missouri; 1940
Pendleton, Minnie Plimpton; USA : 1946<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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From US Sheet Music in Levy Collection<\/strong>\n\nTwas at a fancy ball\nI met my charmer fair,\n'Midst Waltzing Swells and dashing belles,\nThe prettiest dancer there.\nI watched her while the music played\nThe latest waltz of Coote's\nAnd fell in love-no, not with her.\nBut the tassels on her boots. Oh! yes!\n\n[Spoken-Yes! through those little peep-holes In that pretty\nwhite petticoat, I could plainly see...]\n\nThose tassels on the boots,\nA style, I'm sure, that suits\nOur English girls, with hair in curls-\nThose tassels on her boots.<\/em>\n\nI watched her up the stairs,\nWhere we to supper went;\nUpon those tassels on her boots\nMy soul was so intent;\nThey asked me to propose a health\nSaid I, here's one that suits.\nSo fill your glasses up and drink\nTo the tassels on the boots.\n\n[Spoken-I meant to drink the ladies' health, but I could\nthink of nothing but...]\n\nI asked this girl \"if I\nMight call, she said, \"You may\nBut tell me why you gaze upon\nThe ground in such a way?\nYou're sad, perhaps, for life is full\nOf very bitter fruits;\"\n\"Oh, no,\" I said, \"I'm looking at\nThose tassels on your boots.\n\n[Spoken-What is a more lovely sight when you walk down\nRegent Street than to look at...]\n\nI called on her next day,\nAnd Cupid's cruel shoots\nSoon made me throw myself before\nThose tassels on her boots.\nNow when we're married and we've got\nA lot of little toots,\nI'll make them, whether boys or girls,\nWear tassels on their boots.\n\n[Spoken-If I were to have twenty children, they should every\none wear those pretty, pretty, pretty...]\n\n\n<\/pre>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Widely printed in late 19th century American street literature and later adopted as a traditional American song and dance tune, this song originated in the British Music Halls of the late 1860s. It was written and performed by Robert Coombs whose brief biography appears below.Here is a brief review of a performance at The Cambridge<\/em> in London, May 1868<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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The Era\u00a0–\u00a0Sunday 31 May 1868<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
There are multiple reports in local British newspapers of the song being sung in amateur performances from 1868 on. It featured in the repertoire of several American vaudeville entertainers in the late 1860s and early 1870s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Robert Coombs<\/strong> (birth, death unknown) seems to have had an extremely short career in the British Music Halls. For a short period between 1868 and 1870 he appeared regularly in London and Home Counties. His appearances in 1968 describe him as a “newcomer”, these and other notices tended to bill him as an “author, composer and comedian”. He appeared in concert parties accompanied by Alfred Lee, who was best known for his collaborations with George Leybourne. He sold at least one his song to Leybourne: Turkey Rhubarb<\/a><\/em> and he also wrote\/composed We cards in the Guards <\/em>(RNV56878<\/a>). I can find no trace of him after 1870, it may be that he changed his name, emigrated or passed away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Possibly:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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